Hey everyone, here I am with another chapter continuing The Lord's Fallen Angel's story, Virgin Blood. I hope that all of you like it. I'm sorry I have missed a couple of updates, so I am going to try to make up for it in this chapter, and I also want to let you all know; I have no update system yet, so bear with me.

Oh yeah! I would like to thank my reviewers, whose names I will mention at the end of the chapter, for of course, REVIEWING! You guys don't know how much it means to me to receive a review!

The Temple of Artemis: The Temple of Artemis was really burnt down in history on July 21, 356 B.C. by Herostratus. The Ephesians sentenced him to death and forbade anyone to speck his name, under the pain of death. It was said the burning was coincided with the birth of Alexander the Great; Plutarch remarked that Artemis was too preoccupied with Alexander's delivery to save her burning temple.

Nut: Goddess of the sky, whose body makes a canopy over the earth.

Geb: God of the earth, he controls the growth of vegetation.

Shu: God of the winds, son of Ra.

Ma'at: Goddess of truth, justice, and harmony. Associated with balance on earth.

Horus: God of light, keeper of wisdom. Son and avenger of Osiris, became king of Egypt after father's death.

Aken: Captain of the underworld boat. He sleeps until awakened to take passengers across the "river"

Aker: Guardian of the corpse of Apep and the passage of the sun. Aker carries the sun god's boat on his back through the underworld at night.

Apep: Enemy of Ra. Every night he battled to swallow the boat of the sun god, but was always defeated eventually and the sun was free to rise again. Isis defeated him for good by cutting him into pieces and giving the pieces to Aker to guard.

Chapter 9: Death of a Pharaoh

Over the great dry dessert of Egypt, Ra rose into the sky, a new day was born. The god Shu brought a light breeze as he danced steadily in the sands. Nut and Geb welcomed the warmth with open arms.

A single god watched the sun rise from banks of the Nile River, his stoic face showed no emotion as he thought about the exotic woman with pink hair and eyes like green emerald stone. The god moved deeper into the water, he manipulated the sands to take the form of the woman of immense beauty, a beauty he could not have. The god angrily crushed the figure with his hand, and the sands fell onto the banks of the river. He submerged himself under the water and watched the crocodiles fight for fish below the surface; the god swam into a battle between two enormous crocodiles.

The god grabbed both of the reptiles and broke their legs, the god's eyes widened in excitement, and a cruel smile graced his hansom lips at the sight of the blood pouring from the animals' bodies. The god "danced" with the crocodiles until they could no longer put up a fight against him, he then made his final blow. Sharply he pulled back his arm and the sands from the river bottom gathered around his hand, and trusted it into the reptile closest to him, the crocodile released all of the air it possessed and fell to the bottom of the river. The god did the same to the other crocodile. He then ascended to surface of the river, unfazed by the blood that tainted the water and his body, savoring his kill.

Moving up river, the god washed the blood from his body, his arms, his legs, his face, but not his hair. He glided to the banks of the river with a dangerous elegance, the linen cloth wrapped around his waist stained red. He was the definition of fear; he was the monster that all mothers warned their children from. The god drew in a deep breath, the winter months were coming soon, another year passed by without his friend who had joined the zodiac. The sands soared into the sky and took the god with them, just when he felt like he was going to fall, he stopped in midair and spread his arms harshly. Suddenly all of the sand flew across the desert, a sand storm had be made from the god's furry, and "Why must you take everything away from me?" He shouted to the sky, "Do you take pleasure in my grief?"

The god fell gently to the ground he raked his hands through the sands that protected him and given him power all of these years. The only gift he received from his father was his life, Seth wanted nothing to do with his son, and he preferred his eldest son Anubis.

The god walked along the Nile River within hours he reached Heliopolis, the city where he last saw the mystic beauty… "Sakura." He whispered. Just the memory of her smile cooled his fuming heart. The way she tasted when he kissed her beautiful lips was intoxicating and addictive. He wanted her again.

The god entered the usually busy city, he was alarmed that he found no people on the streets to socialize and talk with each other, there was no market were people bartered for their goods, no street players to entertain the people, no one was on the streets, only small incense in pottery cups burned outside the doors of many residences. The fragrance reached the god's nose he stopped in his tracks, frankincense, the people were in mourning. Who died?

Within an instant the god's body dissipated into many grains of sand, he flew to the palace. In his path he saw the same scene of mourning, the smell of frankincense still strong in the air. His sand drifted into the palace and he materialized in the throne room.

There he saw the pharaoh's body siting in his throne, priests gathered around with burning straw secreting smoke, servant girls lathered the king's body with oils and other sweet smelling materials. Women and men sang and danced in front of the king, musicians played their instruments, all of them knowing that they will go along with the pharaoh when he descends into the underworld. The god narrowed his eyes, around the pharaoh's neck, underneath the golden jewelry that adorned the king's collar, was a white linen cloth.

"Murdered." Gaara's eye glanced to the goddess to his right; wings slowly receded into her back, a white feather weaved into her hair. Her light brown eyes held compassion and a wish for balance in the world. Her wings and robes matched the rare clouds in the sky, skin lighter than the average Egyptian woman, hair as black as night. She was desired by most gods and mortals, she was a stunning majestic creature, but Gaara had his eyes on another.

Gaara greeted the goddess with a nod, "Ma'at, it has been a while." The god faced the procession again, he watched the priests start to recite phrases from the book of the dead for safe sleeping until the body is mummified. "Who assassinated him?"

Ma'at grabbed the feather that hung in her hair and stroked it a couple of times with her soft fingers, she then lightly kissed it; "A man sent by his king in Libya, justice will be served to him before he returns home." She smiled lightly, "I've made sure of it."

Gaara chuckled, "Who would've thought that the goddess of justice would have a small thirst for blood?"

Ma'at scowled at Gaara, "Things must be done in order for justice to be obtained, and his punishment was equal to the crime he enacted unto the Pharaoh." Gaara gestured her to continue. The goddess rolled her eyes and slit her finger across her throat, "Happy?"

"Very," he said.

They observed the servants and the priests continue their ceremony, the grand doors to the throne room were opened by two sturdy slaves and the queen entered the room. She wore a gold and white headdress upon her head, she carried flowers picked from the gardens of the palace in her hands. With equally spaced steps she slowly walked across the room, her head bowed and face in tears. No sons or daughters followed in her steed.

Ma'at whispered to Gaara, "You do know what this means right?" the god ignored the goddess as he watched the woman slowly stride through the room in thought. Ma'at pulled Gaara's arm, trying to get his attention.

Pulled from his musings, Gaara glared at the goddess, she was unaffected by his gaze. She calmly released his arm, and looked directly into his eyes, "We have to return to the underworld when the sun sets, Ra has called all of the gods to return."

Gaara pulled away from her, "Why? I do not want to go where I am unwanted."

Ma'at softly murmured, "You saw that the pharaoh had no offspring, we need to find someone who is suited to rule Egypt."

The small grains of sand in the room lifted off of the floor slightly, "What's the point; Horus always becomes the pharaoh in the end. I don't need to be there."

"Gaara, son of Seth, Ra has ordered all gods to descend into the underworld at sunset, you are to go to the Nile and get onto the boat to take you across the river. Do I make myself clear?" Ma'at crossed in front of the angered god, "Sunset."

And with that, the goddess's wings emerged from her back and she took flight, a lone white feather drifted to Gaara's feet, he watched the goddess fly across the throne room and land directly behind the pharaoh, she kissed the top of his head and blessed his slumber until they meet in the underworld for his judgment. She then flew out of one of the throne room's windows and into the open sky.

Gaara bent over and picked up the feather that fell from one of Ma'at's wings and surveyed its color and texture, the god spied a dark streak on the rough feather, and he rubbed his fingers across the dark surface and found that it would not fade away. He smirked to himself, "Even amongst all of the light there is a darkness that looms in all of our hearts." Gaara laughed, "There is always some darkness in all of us, even you Ma'at."

Gaara grasped the feather within his hands and started to make his way out of the throne room, he glanced at the queen still crying for her husband, by this time she had reached her king, she had placed both of her hands on his cheeks and put her forehead on the pharaoh's, she then removed herself from the dead king's body and kissed both of his cheeks and whispered a goodbye. She had walked out of the throne room, with evenly placed steps, Gaara followed.

The queen was greeted by two servants outside of the door; she put on all of her golden jewelry, painted her lips red and outlined her eyes with black kohl. Her lady in waiting approached her with a headdress adorned with various beads and priceless stones. She began her walk again.

Gaara shadowed the four women to the gardens where a pool of water extended from the Nile, a priest waited by the corner of the pool with a golden cup in his hand. The queen took the cup and drank as the priest chanted prayers; she then made her way to the water, stepping on each stair step in despair. Her body descended into the pool inch by inch. It was when she was neck deep in water when she turned around and begged for her life, she said that she didn't want to die, but her plead met deaf ears. She then turned around again; no one would save her from her fate. She plunged her head underneath the water, a few minutes later her body floated to the surface face down.

The priest approached the dead queen and lifted her out of the water, her servants and lady in waiting tracked behind. Gaara knew where the queen was going to be taken; she was to be placed by the king so she would accompany him in his journey to the underworld.

Gaara dissipated into sand, the last thing he saw was the look of pure horror on the queen's face. The god wondered what it was like to die, of course you would feel pain, but what was it like to be a mortal and fear for your life?

The god appeared by the Nile river, and he watched the sun start to fall from the sky, should he go? Gaara felt no need to go to this meeting of some sort, every time the gods meet there is always some drama or political problem, and every single time he is there they blame everything on him. Granted he does kill a couple plants, animals, and mortals with his sandstorms fueled by his furry, but big deal. The plants would return within a month and the animals will mate, and the mortals breed like rats, problem solved.

Gaara looked lazily at the river glaring every so often at the bird that crossed his sight, his thoughts once again drifted to Sakura Uchiha. He wondered what dreams she had that the marriage held her back from them. If she was his woman he would allow her to so whatever she pleased…his woman. If only she wasn't across the Mediterranean in Greece, he would kill her husband and take her all for himself. The god remembered the blissful night he had with the woman, they both moved as one, her soft skin on his, their warm gasps invading the cool desert air. He pictured her in the most lavish white linen with gold braded into her silken hair, he'd want her to look as natural as possible, she wouldn't look like all of the bland women in Egypt, and she would be his exotic beauty.

The sun began to fall upon the pyramids in distance and the winds were tranquil, the god had made his decision to journey to the underworld, he waited for the boat that would ferry him to the underworld. Gaara watched the boat crawl up the river its rowers were past convicts whose bodies have decayed over the years of service. Gaara's sands lifted him into the boat and he landed lightly on the deck.

A god who sat at the rear of the boat called to him, the god's voice was hoarse and sounded like a dying animal's screech, "Welcome aboard, Gaara. It has been about two hundred years since I have last seen you."

Gaara turned around and saw the god who ferried the boat from the upper-world and the underworld. He wore a dark colored loin cloth and black cloth draped over his shoulders and arms. His legs were thin and lacked mortal muscle, and his hair was long and unruly. "Indeed it has been a while, Aken."

The god pulled himself from the seat he resided in, his joins and bones cracking with each movement, a skeleton moved toward the captain and gave him a long, warn, white bone cane. The god grabbed it from the dead man, "Thank you, Kolein." The skeleton saluted the captain and returned to his duties on the ship. Aken then used the cane to hobble over to the red head, a lopsided smile smashed onto his face. He reached Gaara and stretched out his arms to embrace the god; not wanting to be rude Gaara weakly opened his arms and allowed the old god to hug him.

The old god released his hold on Gaara and smiled again, "I remember when you were just a little boy on this ship running from side to side to look at hippopotamuses and crocodiles with your mother and that friend of yours, what was his name? S-

Gaara interrupted the god coldly, "I do not wish to talk about that."

Aken's smile faded and nodded in understanding, this boy did not want to talk to him today. He started to hobble away from the red head, but stopped.

"I'm sorry Aken, I just can't talk about it right now; it still hurts to know that he left me here alone." Gaara wandered to the boat's railing and saw more gods and goddesses enter the ship, he saw a familiar set of white wings fly above the boat. "Are you attending this meeting Aken?"

The god laughed lightly causing his eyeball to fall from its socket in his head, "Of course I'm going to be there! Every god and goddess is going to be there, well with the exception of my brother Aker, you know guarding Apep and all." Gaara nodded and made a move to leave, "Gaara," the red head stopped, "come back soon, two hundred years is a long time to an old geezer like me."

"Okay," Gaara then left the captain to his own devices, Aken was one of the most friendliest gods you would ever meet, it's pretty ironic seeing how he deals with dead convicts all of the time. Gaara thought of him as his father or close relative since his real father disliked him, Gaara also hasn't seen his mother in over a thousand years.

"It's nice to see that you have chosen to come to the meeting Gaara, I thought that you would've refused to even set foot on this boat." Ma'at landed right next to Gaara, her hung wings receded into her robes, "Guess I was wrong."

Gaara gave a huff, "Has anyone within a thousand years tell you, you have a split personality."

The goddess gave him a bright smile and shook her head, "Nope, you're the first in two thousand years. Ra told me five thousand years ago and never mentioned it again." She fiddled with the feather that hung in her hair and her voice turned dark, "So I've heard that you made a woman cheat on her husband…"

Gaara nearly fell over the railing of the boat and into the water, what stopped him from plunging into the warm water was the goddess's hold on his arm. He gasped for breath, how did she know?

"I don't stroke mess with the feather in my hair without a reason, it tells me what a person has done." Ma'at saw the horror in Gaara's eyes, "Don't worry, what you did was the right thing to do, or are you worried about the sand storm you made this morning? Just to let you know, you killed fifteen mortals with your little spat."

"Ma'at will you please stop talking. I swear will tear your short brown hair from your scalp if you don't close your trap."

Gaara's rant was silenced by Ma'at laughter, "Oh, I don't think you would. You're too scared."

The red head looked at the goddess like she was crazy, "Do you want to try me?"

She returned his look with a mock serious face, and pouted her lips, "Why so serious Lord Gaara?"

"That's it! You better run!" yelled Gaara, the goddess laughed and ran about the deck, both gods giggled as they chased each other, and they passed the many other gods on the boat nearly knocking them overboard.

Ma'at tripped over a beam strewn on the deck and fell onto the deck; and Gaara soon followed. The both proceeded to laugh together and enjoy their fun, "It has been thousands of years since we have had that much fun, don't you remember?"

Gaara stilled and he slowly stood up and brushed down his clothing, "Yes it has, but those years are far behind us."

Ma'at stared at the red head in confusion, "What do you mean? We're immortal we have all the time in the-

Gaara silenced her, "We are not kids anymore, you both have responsibility. Yours is keeping the peace and justice, mine is to destroy what people treasure and prize because of my selfishness. Ma'at we are two completely different gods."

Ma'at pleaded, "But Gaara-

"No Ma'at just leave me alone!" The sands on the river banks thrashed to and fro, attacking everything and anything within striking distance.

The goddess bowed her head in sorrow her shoulders shook as she began to cry, "I'm sorry." She drew in a deep breath her voice cracked in pain, "I should have…never…" The goddess ran from God, her tears dropped onto the deck, her wings sprouted from her back and she tried to take flight. Ma'at fell to her knees and wrapped her wings around her body.

Gaara moved to the railing and grasped it with all of his might, he nearly crushed the beams with his strength, "Damn it."

The god was about to call for his sands to take him away from this place but it was too late, the sun's rays had now fallen beneath the horizon.

Captain Aken, gave the command for the ship to go down into the underworld, "Take her down Mr. Kolien."

The skeleton's bones rattled and somehow was able to produce sound from his throat to relay the command to the rest of the crew, the skeletons' voice called, "D-o-o-o-own!" and in reply all of the dead crew called back, "D-o-o-o-own!" The rowing of the boat increased and gained speed, the skeletons bone rattled and shook, the boat began to sink quickly under the river. It passed layers upon layer upon layers of rock and stone. The boat creaked and moaned under the pressure.

Gaara could swear that the captain and the skeletons were laughing in excitement, he coulds tell that they were almost "Across" the river when the boat started to slow its pace.

Aken called to his crew as the boat slowed, "Keep it steady men! Row, row, row, put your back into it Mr. Mizuki! Row!" Aken hobbled to the head of the ship and took out his kohl set and applied his eye makeup, the god brushed off his linen as best as he could.

Gaara watched the golden underworld come into view, it was paradise for some mortals but most of the time it was hell. You still had to work in the underworld, be it farm work, servant work, anything that you had a use for. Basically when you die, you serve the gods that reside in the underworld, even if you were the queen or wife of a pharaoh, you still worked.

Fields of wheat and other grains floated by, along with herds of animals, it was here that the Nile was full all year long, that the weather was at its most pleasurable condition.

The boat pulled up to the docks nearest to the city entrance, the skeletons reached for the ramp that the gods would walk down and secured it into place.

Aken was giving his last orders to the skeletal men, "Now, men, I would like to have the ship absolutely clean when I return please. Mr. Kolien is in charge. Good bye gentlemen, see you in the morning!" The captain took his cane and hobbled happily down the ramp and into the city, his lop sided smile plastered on his face.

Gaara watched Ma'at slowly make her way down the ramp, her wings dragged on the surface as she shoulders still shook, he looked away guilty.

The red headed god sauntered to the ramp and gazed at the city, he hasn't been her for over two hundred years. He wondered if his favorite bakery was still open and if it still served his favorite bread. The god kept his eyes to his feet and inched down the ramp, souls watched the god arrive in the city, some didn't even remember him, nor did they care.

"Gaara! It has been SUCH a long time!"

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, and again, I am sorry for the delay. I broke my promise, BAD ME! Oh well let's get on to the reviews!

I would like to thank these people for reviewing!

ShadowFoxAngel, thingofmyth, NorthernLights25, hyuugahinata247, baka, DragonMistressLove, XBloodMageRikaX, Sam, happy everyday life, kat massacre, actwolf94, Doesn't Matter, The Lord's Fallen Angel, Saguagi666, tmmdeathwishraven, xsugabearx, Cindy Medeiros, and AnimaAmore!

Keep reviewing guys!

A message for xsugabearx:

Yes, Hera is a bitter bitch. Your question about Sasuke seeing into Sakura's soul, he hasn't turned his Sharingan, or gift, in front of her yet, so he wouldn't know. Hera wants her to be with Sasuke because they are married and they still need to consummate their "Bond" Hera is taking as an insult to the thing she protects, marriage. We will meet Hades in due time.

A message for thingofmyth:

Hehe…thanks for the review! I'll TRY to work on my sentence length, too many commas can kill a peron? D,i,d,n,t,k,n,o,w,t,h,a,t. HAHA! Yes that guy had to die at some point in his life, guess it had to be by Artemis's hand!

A message to all and to all a good night:

Here is how I am going to do my reviews, I will from now on, post all who review in one section, and answer two reviews. Your reviews can be anything, they can ask about the story, like: what you thought was confusing, they can be about me, they can be ideas for the story, and they can be critique on my grammar and spelling, THEY CAN BE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING! So have fun, and see you next chapter!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Tell me how I am doing!

REVIEW!