Disclaimer: Don't own Yugioh

Just FYI, be prepared for some mild steaminess at the end of this chapter, heeheehee...

I felt a cool wet rag being pressed to my forehead. "Mad…" I whispered.

"Unfortunately, it's just me," I heard Karim say. His face blurrily appeared before me. I struggled to sit up, but he put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. "Do not overly exert yourself, Jasana. The battle took a great toll on your ba and your heka."

"Karim, is Mahado all right?" I worriedly asked. "Where is he?"

"Gone," I felt the tears start to my eyes, but then his expression lightened as he finished, "but he'll be back in five days, after he has completed the ritual to seal away half his heka."

I laughed in relief. "By the gods, Karim, don't scare me like that!"

He smiled. "Consider it payback for scaring all of us like that with your power. Even Seto was amazed that you could summon such a dazzling creature."

I looked at him in confusion. "But that wasn't me; I barely had any strength to even stay conscious after that last strike. I thought one of you had summoned that ka."

"No, you know that none of us have a ka named 'Re-Horakti', and you know that none of ours had strength of that magnitude. If it wasn't you, then who could have called upon the Creator of Light to come and expel the darkness?"

"I don't know, but I'm glad that she did; she saved us all," I replied. "What happened after I collapsed?"

"Well, the sight of you and Serewakht both lying unconscious brought Mahado to his senses, and he was badly shaken by all that had transpired. After he brought you here, he wasted no time in departing for the Sacred Sanctuary."

"Hopefully that will save him and prevent this horror from happening again. But what of Serewakht? How is he doing?"

"He's still alive, which is a miracle, considering that his ka was destroyed in the battle. But he has yet to awaken, and he is very weak. Lady Aseneit says that he does not have long to live."
"I have to thank you and the others for coming to my aid when you did, otherwise my ka would have surely perished in the fight."

"You underestimate your own power; I'm sure that you would have been just fine. Your power is even greater than any of us anticipated, and now, with Mahado's power diminished, you are the most powerful one of us all. It's a wonder that one of the Items hasn't chosen you."

I shuddered. "I'm glad of it; I don't want anything to do with those evil Items."

"I don't think they are evil necessarily, but one can certainly use them for evil purposes. But they were designed specifically to uphold ma'at. You need not worry, Jasana. They are in safe hands with us."

"But how do I know that what happened to Mahado won't happen to you, Isis, or any of the others?"

He gently patted my hand. "You forget that we have had our Items longer than Mahado has had his, and we have had no trouble thus far. Have you noticed that Mahado had trouble almost from the very moment he put on the Ring?"

"Yes, but why would the Millennium Ring cause such trouble for him while yours gave you no trouble at all?"

Karim scratched his chin. "I haven't the slightest idea, I'm afraid."

"Has it been five days yet?" I asked impatiently. "I can't wait for Mad to return!" I moved a piece of senet on the board.

Karim shifted as he contemplated his next move. Senupi cunningly pushed a piece forward with his nose. Karim laughed and patted him on the back. "Why, thank you, Senupi; that's an excellent move! Perhaps I should just let you play for me."

I moved another piece, and then Senupi touched one with his nose, and Karim moved it, taking one of my pieces. "That's unfair," I laughed, "You have a dog to help you beat me. Senupi, you're supposed to be on my side!" He simply barked and licked Karim.

"It seems that he prefers me this time, Jasana," Karim said smugly.

"Anyway, when can I at least get out of bed and move around?"

"According to Lady Aseneit," Isis answered as she entered, "you can try getting out of bed tomorrow, but you should go at least seven days before you try tapping into your heka again in order to give it time to recuperate." She looked down at the board. "How is it that you're winning against Jasana, Karim? You've been having rather bad luck with this game lately, and Jasana is an exceptionally good player."

"Well, I have a little assistance," Karim said, smiling down at Senupi.

Isis smiled down at the dog and patted him on the head. "I thought you were supposed to be attending to the Temple of Hathor," I said.

"Not for another couple of hours or so, when it is time for the evening ritual," she replied. "So I thought I would come here to see how you are doing."

"How goes Aramen, Safira, and Meret's progress?" I had asked her to take over my job of teaching them while I was bedridden.

"Very good, considering that I have only taught them for a day. I know that in no time, you'll be back to your duties."

"Yes, I shall be glad to do so. It's been very dull these past two days, having to sit in bed with nothing to do, especially with Mahado gone."

"Why, have I proven to be so inadequate, Jasana? I'm offended," Karim joked.

"Not at all! You and Atem have made it bearable, but even with your entertainment I still don't like being stuck in bed. And I still miss Mad; I want to make sure that he's all right now."

Isis and Karim looked at each other, and then Isis said carefully, "Jasana, Mahado seemed to be extremely distraught after his ordeal. I doubt that he will have entirely recovered by the time he returns from the sanctuary…"

"We think it's best if you don't seek him out; give him time to reflect on his own and recover, and let him come to you," Karim finished for her.

"But why would he feel such guilt? It's not his fault in the first place!" I replied, bewildered at what they're saying. "And even if he feels so guilty, what should that have to do with me?"
"I don't know, but believe me; it's best if you do as we say," Karim replied. "Let him come to you."

"Has there been any improvement in his condition?" I asked Lady Aseneit as I checked Lord Serewakht's pulse.

"No, he has been in a stable but weak condition for these past few days," Lady Aseneit replied. "The remainder of his heka is what has been keeping him miraculously alive for this long; his power is greatly immense."

"I see," I murmured. I wished that he would wake up so that I could speak to him about Mahado. He had returned, but I hadn't seen him at all, and doubt and anxiety were eating away at me. "You can attend to the others, Lady Aseneit. I shall stay here for a while and look after him."

Lady Aseneit nodded and swept from the room. I chanted a spell, hoping to revive him, but to no avail. I heard footsteps approach, and then hesitate at the threshold. I turned around, and seeing that it was Mahado, I beamed. "Mad! Thank goodness you've returned!" I sprang to my feet and started towards him.

"Don't come any closer!" he said sharply. I stopped in my tracks, perplexed. His stony expression softened into one of agony and pain. "It's for your own safety, Jani."

"But all of that is over, Mad. You are safe now." I moved closer to him.

"I must insist!" he said firmly, stepping back. "I came to ask after my uncle; how is he?"

"He has yet to awaken, I'm afraid. His condition is stable, but he is very weak. It's a miracle that he has remained alive for this long, because his ka was destroyed in the battle."

"Your ka wasn't attacked in the battle, was it?" he asked anxiously.

"It was, but Karim, Isis, Shimon, Uncle Akhnadin, and Seto came to my assistance," I answered, still confused by his distance. Seeing the anguish on his face, I said softly, "Mad, you mustn't blame yourself for what happened; it wasn't your fault."

"It was," he replied. "It was my pride that prevented me from sealing away my power, and my stubbornness that caused me to succumb to the shadows. None of this would have happened if I had just listened to my uncle in the first place and sealed half of my power away. I'm never using magic again."

"You don't mean that; the magic means too much to you for you to simply let it wither away," I murmured.

"Before I can trust myself to use my heka again, I must go to the Temple of Thoth and undergo an atonement ritual to ask for the god's forgiveness. It will take ten days."

"But there's nothing to forgive, Mad!"

"But there is, my love." My heart wrenched seeing the guilt in his face. "And before I can bring myself to do so much as to touch you, I must be free of my sin. Forgive me, but it is better this way, trust me." With that, he turned around and walked away.

"Mad!" I cried, reaching my hand out to beckon him back. He paused, but then continued on his way, not even turning his head around to look at me. Tears filled my eyes and streamed down my face. O Aset, I prayed in agony, why did you return his body to me but not his heart?

I refused to join the party in the banquet hall that night; I was in no mood for festivity. I sat in my bed, gazing at a frozen image of Mahado and me. Suddenly, Senupi barked, bringing me out of my reverie. Atem stood at the doorway.

"Sister? Why are you not at the banquet? I've brought you some duck soup; Father said that I can eat here with you tonight."

"I don't really feel up for it," I said forlornly. "And that is most kind of you, Atem. Come, we'll eat in the anteroom."

As we ate, Atem, having sensed the cause of my sadness, patted my hand and said, "Don't feel bad about Mahado's strange behavior, Jani. He has been distant with everyone. I believe you are the only one he has uttered more than a few words to; he won't even talk to me!"

"Don't you find it disturbing, Atem?" I asked. "What's the point of having rescued him if he will never be the same again?"

"Oh, I'm sure that he will, once he has undergone the ritual at the temple. You just need to give him time, and I'm sure that this will all blow over." He pulled me into a hug. "Have faith, Jani. After all, you managed to bring him back to us; there had to be some reason Aset was with you that day. The love between the two of you is too strong to be broken by something trivial such as this."

I didn't think that an ordeal in which I nearly lost Mahado and he nearly lost his soul counted as something trivial, but I hoped with all my heart that Atem was right.

When I awoke the next morning, I found another white lotus blossom on the table by my bedside. I felt a small flutter of hope in my heart. Mahado was here? But why didn't he wake me? I now vaguely recalled a hand cupping my cheek for a brief moment, but I had dismissed it as a wishful dream. There was a piece of papyrus next to the bowl, and I snatched it up, hungrily reading the words.

Dearest Jani,

Forgive my seeming coldness to you. But I nearly lost you, and even worse, it was all my doing. I cannot let such a thing happen again. That is why I have been staying away from you, my love. However, rest assured that my love for you remains unchanged. Once I have fulfilled my duty to Thoth and completed the ritual, which will take ten days, I shall return to your arms, with hope that you will still have me after all that has happened.

Forever yours, with all my love,
Mad

My heart swelled with hope. At least he says he will return, we will still have the chance to restore the life we had together, I thought to myself. And when he returns, his duty to Thoth will be fulfilled, and he will return to my bed again.

Feeling revived, I went about my duties with more energy than usual. As I checked on Lord Serewakht, I noticed that his eyes were open. "Lord Serewakht! You've returned to us!" I said happily.

"But I can only hold on for so long," he whispered weakly. "Where's Mahado? Is he all right?"

"Yes, we succeeded in expelling the darkness from his soul, and he has sealed half of his power away, as you told him to."

Relief flooded his face. "Good… that is good… I knew that if anyone could do it, you could, Princess."

"I had a little help from Karim, Isis, Shimon, Seto, Uncle Akhnadin, and Aset," I replied sheepishly. "And from you, of course."

"Now that half of his power is safely sealed, his soul should be safe…" he succumbed to a coughing fit.

I held a concoction of herbs to his lips. "This will help restore your strength, Lord Serewakht," I said.

He drank. "I'm afraid it will be of no use," he rasped. "My life is nearing its end. But I must speak with my nephew one last time before I go…"

"He has gone to seek Thoth's forgiveness," I said. "He will be gone for ten days."

"I suppose I can wait that long, but once he returns, please see to it that he immediately comes to me."

"I will see it done," I obediently replied. After a pause, I said hesitantly, "Lord Serewakht… Mahado hasn't been himself since we expelled the darkness from his soul. He has been distant from me and everyone else."

"You know… that Mahado has always been a sensitive person… he lets any guilt overwhelm him…But I know that in time… he will be back to his old beloved self," he said, covering my hand with his. "I knew that with your love… you were the only one who could save him…When the other Guardians were discussing how to handle this problem… I recalled my sister's words… what she had always told me since we were children. Love is truly the greatest magic there is… Remember this, Princess… this will carry you through whatever ordeals lay ahead. And believe me, there will be more ordeals to come."

I nodded my head. "I shall take your words to heart, Lord Serewakht. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall find Lady Aseneit and tell her that you have awakened; she will want to attend to you herself."

"That would be most kind of her," he whispered. As I left him, he drifted back into sleep.

"He's fading fast, Princess!" Lady Aseneit cried, frantically chanting a spell.

I grasped Serewakht's hand. "Just hold on, Lord Serewakht. Mahado is due to come back from the temple soon."

"Thank Thoth…" he whispered. After managing to hold on for all this time, his life force was waning quickly.

O Aset, Great Mistress of Magic, you who have graced this man with your power for so many years, please preserve him long enough to grant him his last wish, I prayed.

A servant entered and bowed to us. "Princess, Lady Aseneit, and Lord Serewakht, Mahado has just arrived at the stable; he is coming as we speak."

"Thank Aset," I muttered as I rose to my feet. "I shall leave the two of you to talk in private. Lord Serewakht, should you breathe your last before we get a chance to see each other again, I have greatly valued your wisdom and I thank you for all your tutelage through all these years."

He smiled and fondly grasped my hand. "May Thoth smile upon you and Mahado and bless your life together, Princess. It has been an honor."

I noticed that the atmosphere of the banquet hall was quieter and more subdued than usual. "What is going on?" I asked Karim as I filled his cup.

"Lord Serewakht passed away not too long ago," he answered.

I silently said a prayer for the passing of his soul. "I hope that he had a chance to say all he wished to say to Mahado."

"I believe he did," Karim said assuringly.

Suddenly realizing what this meant, I stood up. "Mahado will need me to comfort him!"

He grabbed my arm. "Let him mourn in peace. Remember what I said, Jasana, let him come to you."

"But you didn't take into consideration Lord Serewakht's death!" I argued. "Mahado loved him like a father! He will be devastated!"

"If he is, then he will come to you tonight," he said steadily. "I will go and speak with him. If he feels like it, he will come to you. If he does not, then he will not. Be patient, Jasana, and let things take their course as they should."

So Karim disappeared from the hall with a tray of food, a task that I should have done myself. I retired early from the banquet hall to my bedchamber, and waited for Mahado to come to me.

But hour after hour passed, and he still did not come. When it became apparent that he would not, I began to weep into my pillow. Oh Aset, what have I done to lose him? Why did this have to happen? I heaved sob after sob, and Senupi tried in vain to cheer me up by licking my face. Cuddling up with him, I eventually fell asleep.

By the next afternoon, I still had not seen him. My impatience finally got the better of me. I didn't care if Karim thought himself to be right in this situation; Mahado needed me, and I needed to see him. I went to seek him in his chamber, only to find it empty. "You there!" I called to a servant. "Can you tell me where Lord Mahado is?"

"He went for a ride this morning, Princess," the servant answered, "and has not been seen since."

"Thank you," I said, dismissing the servant. I could easily guess where Mahado had gone; most likely he had gone to our oasis to mourn there. If that was the case, then he certainly sought solitude, and Karim was right after all, as usual.

I made my way to the stable, hoping that Nephthys would soothe my anxiety. I encountered Isis saddling up her horse. She turned to me and smiled. "Ah, Jasana! You are just in time to accompany me for a ride along the Nile."

I smiled. "I would like that, Isis. Wait for me." She waited as I quickly saddled and bridled Nephthys, and before long we were on our way.

"Have you seen Mahado yet?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "I haven't seen him since before he left for the Temple of Thoth."

"That long?" she asked in surprise.

I sighed. "Yes; he was so distant, even with me! He wouldn't come anywhere near me, let alone embrace me and kiss me. That is so unlike him. And, oh Isis, it pained me so much to see the guilt and anguish on his face."

"That was how he was like with everyone in general before he left," Isis said gently.

"Yes, that is what Atem told me, but that hardly helps," I replied shortly.

She shook her head. "And now Serewakht has passed… I wonder how he will take it, having just survived that last ordeal."

"Which is why he needs me by his side to help him get through this!" I said impatiently. "I don't see the reason in Karim's suggestion to wait for him to come to me!"

"I don't fully understand it either, Jasana, but Karim always has reason in mind when he gives his suggestions. Trust him this time, just as you have always trusted him."

I sighed. "Well, I'm hoping that Mahado will be back from his ride before we are done."

"Do you know where he is?"

"I suspect that he is at our oasis," I answered, letting my gaze drift in that direction, hoping to spot him and Bata returning to the palace. But alas, all I could see was the golden sand.

"I'm sure that he will return soon," Isis said soothingly.

We waited and rode for hours, until Ra was getting ready to descend into the west, before we had to admit that we had waited too long. We handed our horses to the grooms before changing for the evening banquet. I took greater care with my appearance in case Mahado should appear; I wanted to look my best for him. Yet he still did not show up, even though I kept my eyes peeled for him.

I kept the oil lamp glowing late into the night, waiting for him. I had undressed, pulling on the same beaded net that I had worn on our wedding night, hoping to invoke the same passion that we had shared when he finally came to me. His month of duty was now over. Surely, surely tonight he will come, I thought desperately. After all, he must miss me as much as I miss him.

I glanced at the water clock, and was just about to lean over and blow out the lamp when I caught sight of a shadow on the threshold. My heart leapt with joy, but that joy soon dissipated when I saw that Mahado's face was streaked with tears. "Jani…" he murmured, his voice choked with tears.

I could see that he was in no mood for lovemaking. I silently held my arms out to him, beckoning him to come to me. He removed his headdress and the Millennium Ring and laid them on the table before he threw himself into my arms. He laid his head on my bosom and began to sob.

"Shh… there, there, my love," I crooned softly, running my fingers through his hair. "It's all right, just let it all out… I'm here for you."

"My uncle… is d-dead," he said as he cried, "and it's all b-because… of me…"

"You mustn't say that," I replied gently. "His health was already declining when he passed the Ring onto you. He did everything he could to save you from the darkness, and his death is not your fault. None of what happened was your fault, so forgive yourself just as everyone else has forgiven you, especially me…"

He didn't say another word, and I cradled his head in my arms as if he was a child as he cried himself to sleep.

My eyelids fluttered open to see Ra's rays streaming into the room. What time is it? I wondered as I yawned. Mahado was still fast asleep, his head on my chest where he had laid it the night before. I saw a scrap of papyrus on the table, and I reached over with one arm to grab it.

Jasana,

You and Mahado are excused from your duties today, to catch up and to let Mahado grieve. If you feel up to it, you may attend to them, but that is not necessary. Someone else will attend to them for you.

-Father

I sighed with relief. If we still had to attend to our duties, then we would have been late, judging by the amount of sunshine streaming into the room. I looked down at Mahado. The kohl around his eyes had smudged, but the anguish and guilt had dissolved from his face, and he looked as peaceful as a child. I gently tightened my grip on him, as if I was afraid that he would disappear at any moment. He had finally returned to me, and I was perfectly content to hold him as he slept; it seemed an eternity since I had held him in my arms, even though it had only been since before the ordeal. But then, that was fifteen long days before.

He stirred sleepily and rolled off me. Stretching his arms out and yawning, he slowly opened his eyes, and seemed surprised to see me. "Jani…" he whispered.

I leaned over and lightly kissed him. "Good morning, my love," I murmured. "Sleep all you wish; you are excused from your duties today."

"But I must…attend to the Pharaoh…" he said, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"Mad, you are clearly exhausted and in no condition to attend to your duties today," I said. "You may attend to them in the afternoon, but only after you've had a decent bath and something to eat. By the looks of you, and the smell, you could really use some freshening up."

He smiled, looking abashed. "Perhaps I should have considered bathing before I came to you. I could see that you weren't quite prepared to see some bedraggled, filthy man into your bed."

I laughed softly, cupping his cheek with my hand. "I would have taken you even if you were covered in mud," I replied. "Finally you have returned to me, and not a moment too soon. Where were you last night? I waited for you, and you never came to me."

"I'm sorry," he said, seeing the hurt on my face. "I didn't sleep at all last night, so I meditated in the temple, hoping to ease my grief over my uncle's death. That brought me no peace, and so I saddled Bata, and went to the oasis. I spent all of yesterday there, and I found a small measure of peace. Suddenly, I recalled the last time I was there, which was with you, and then I longed to see you, to hold you once again. Realizing that my month of duty was over, I hurried to return to you. Yet, upon stepping on your threshold, grief and guilt seemed to overwhelm me, and I couldn't help the tears."

"I'm glad that you let them all out, instead of holding them all in," I said, sliding closer to wrap my arms around him.

He buried his face into my neck. "You have no idea how glad I am that you welcomed me back with open arms. For a moment, I was afraid that you would spurn me, after all that has happened."

I kissed him with a burning hunger, and he returned it with equal passion. "Does that reassure you?" I asked huskily. "I could never shun you! I've missed you this past month!"

"And I you, my love," he murmured into my hair. Inhaling deeply, he said, "You smell so clean and fresh! While I'm absolutely filthy." He rolled out of bed, and then picked me up. "Come, I'm going to the baths; I want to return to you as clean and fresh as you are."

I looped my arms around his neck. "I'm coming with you, and I shall attend to you myself." Mischievously trailing my fingers up his chest, I finished, "It will be the best bath you've ever had."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" he said impatiently, swooping up a robe to cover my nakedness and consequently carrying me to the baths.

"Ohhhhh, that hits the spot, Jani," he moaned. I smirked as I felt his back muscles quiver with pleasure under my touch. I sensually rubbed lotus oil into his scalp, moving my fingers in slow circles and planting soft, feathery kisses at the nape of his neck. His moans became louder and he tried to turn around, but I firmly placed my hands on his shoulders. "You'll have to wait till I'm done with you, Mad," I whispered seductively as I licked his earlobe.

"Just hurry up," he pleaded, "for I want my turn with you."

"Your turn?" I laughed.

"Yes, for I intend to return the favor," he said naughtily, "whether you want it or not." He forcibly turned around at that, and grabbing a jar of jasmine oil, switched places with me. His strong hands began to massage my shoulders and move lower down my back, his lips preceding the entire length down my back.

I closed my eyes in pleasure at the sensation. His hands snaked around to massage my abdomen, and they slowly inched up until they cupped my breasts, my nipples immediately hardening under his touch. He pulled me close against him and nibbled along the length of my neck to my shoulder. "Ohhhh… Maaaaad…" I moaned, leaning my head back and reveling in pleasure, feeling my desire rise.

"I think it's sexy when you say my name like that," he murmured as he slowly and deliberately continued his seductive caresses. Finally, when I couldn't bear it anymore, I turned around and pummeled him with kisses, wrapping my legs around him and straddling him.

"I told you this will be the best bath you've ever had," I murmured, moving my hands to below the water.

"And the same for you, Jani," he replied as he pressed me against the edge of the tub.

After we had spent ourselves, we luxuriated in the hot water, wrapped in each other's arms. As our breathing returned to normal, I studied his face; he appeared to be deep in serious thought. "What could you possibly be contemplating so seriously, Mad?" I teased. "Was it not to your liking just now?"

He smiled and pulled me closer to him. Kissing me on the forehead, he replied, "It was even better than I thought it would be," he replied. But his thoughtful expression returned as he said, "But a thought just occurred to me: you know that heka is neither created nor destroyed, but simply changes forms. Whatever power the Millennium Items have must have been harnessed from an incredible source. I'm determined to find this source; for if there is darkness residing within the Ring, there could be darkness residing in the other Items as well. If I can discover the origin of the Items, I just may be able to find a way to stay the darkness in these Items and protect the other Guardians."

"That is a noble endeavor," I said, kissing him. But something told me that it wouldn't be an easy task. I realized that he was right; whatever power the Items had must have been taken from a source, but exactly what could have given the Millennium Items such power?

Thanks so much for reading! And please leave a review too! As of tomorrow (well, technically today), I am on Spring Break! And I'll be on vacation too. So I may or may not be able to update, depends on if I have Internet access. Most likely I will, so I will keep the updates coming! But I'm definitely taking a break from writing for the week; hopefully this will let my updates catch up with the chapters I have finished. Please leave a review too! :)