With the exception of the plot and the original characters that are depicted in the story, the author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended on the franchise of Inuyasha and Ouke no Monshou that rightfully belong to its owners Rumiko Takahashi and Chieko Hosokawa.
Sekhmet, Isis, and Kagome were heading to the Nilometer, and these buildings were newer, if of more shabby construction. Soon they were at another bazaar, but this one obviously much cheaper in quality. Isis, Kagome and Sekhmet did not leave each other's presences, knowing that the treatment towards women has not changed in the last three thousand years. Kagome shuffled closer to her companions when a group of four men eyed them as they passed by. They made their way through the bazaar and into a very narrow alleyway where they had to turn sideways to just walk through it. Sekhmet walked behind Isis and Kagome as their de facto shield. She didn't want either of them taken as it would expose them.
When they exited the alleyway, they soon stood in an old courtyard. There were rows of exotic animals in steel cages on either side. Merchants were shouting, shaking their fists as they advertised their illegal wares to customers. When the women paused in their trek, Sekhmet stepped past them and continued to lead them through the bazaar. Along the riverside was a decrepit building with hieroglyphs etched along the top of the entryway. Although some of these markings lacked a few characters for a complete translation, it was enough to understand the building's purpose. When they went inside, the group saw two huddled children in one corner of the room. A tiny unlit fire pit lay near the doorway, the bedrolls crawling with insects. Kagome felt tears burn behind her eyelids when she saw the cradle's occupant, only six months old, squirming under the blankets and crying from the heat. Swallowing the lump in her throat, the former scholar carefully picked up the infant and removed the blankets, placing them on the side. She used her spiritual energy to soothe the child until it fell asleep. Kagome then turned to Sekhmet.
"Where is this little one's family?"
The deity blinked. "Ah, we could not raise suspicions, or let anyone see us, so I conjured some food in the bazaar to distract them. I did not think they would leave a babe behind."
Isis couldn't help but notice how natural Kagome was with a child in her arms, cradling and cooing at her. Sekhmet came over and looked down at the tiny mortal. When the deity smiled at the little babe, it was without teeth. The babe reached forward and touched Sekhmet's face, ever so gently. Sekhmet seemed to have enjoyed the touch of the little one's fingers. Her eyes were gentle and loving. Such an expression confused Isis. Wasn't she the goddess of war and carnage?
Kagome saw her companion's expression and said, "All is fair In Love and War, Isis. They are two sides of the same coin. A child cannot hate. They can exude only love, wonder, and a need to be cared for. They are the future. If there is one thing that should always be done, it's trying your absolute best to better the world for the children that will grow into adults and replace you when it's time. By then, I am sure they will try to better the world for their children."
Kagome's words shocked and touched Isis. Sekhmet felt the wisdom in her words settle into her bones. In this she knew Kagome was right beyond anything said before her. She knew they were the wisdoms from her own gods and knew they became part of this pantheon as well. This matter needed to be addressed.
"Kagome, the words you have spoken, you must repeat them to me in the past. They become part of our lives. A rule we all need to live by. If you speak them to myself or any other god, or ruler of a kingdom or empire, they will hear nothing but the truth. And it will resonate in them so loudly, they won't be able to hear anything else. I could hear it. You have a voice that resonates with the world, whether you realize they had sent you to say them or not. I believe this lone principle will be what shapes our world into something better. And you need to stop Set to make it a better place for everyone, especially the future generations."
Kagome shifted her weight from foot to foot to imitate steps and swayed. Combined with the calming feel of Kagome's energy, the baby was asleep in minutes. Kagome left the blanket off and lay the child into her cradle peacefully. The child would be fine until her parents got back. She didn't even stir in her cradle. All three then set about heading down the stairs that used to reach the Nile River at the bottom, looking at the marks on the walls as they descended. The last steps were black and wet. The former scholar looked back at Isis and smiled at her.
"Please don't die again, Kagome. You are my friend. My only friend here who knows anything real. I'd very much like to see you again. You've given me a lot to think about. I don't know why, but things seem a little blurry in my head now. I am guessing you change a lot, and put me on the right path, so thank you."
Kagome smiled at Isis. "I have a habit of that. Your welcome. I hope to find someone you will make you worthy of each other. I'll see you later, I hope, Isis. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Sekhmet smiled at them. "I will see you soon, my little Oracle. Live well, and be happy." The deity approached and placed her hand into the bag. The sound of little thin metal pieces jingled into the bag. Kagome realized she may need silver. Especially to fund a war if the treasury was empty. Kagome nodded. She knew it wasn't just silver, but gems, gold, copper, and many semi-precious stones.
This irked Kagome. "Maybe when ancient people stop acting like children, and actually use their words like the adults they are supposed to be, I might just settle down with someone who isn't stupid." She grumbled. Sekhmet laughed and stepped away.
Kagome inhaled a breath and walked into the darkness at the bottom of the Nilometer.
Memphis stormed down the hall to his chambers from the throne room. Today's meeting had once again brought another greedy snake into light in his court. The workload and responsibilities had piled up on him since her passing. He could not think her name aloud in his head even. It had only been with the help from Prime Minister Imhotep and his military commander Minue that he had even secured a peace treaty with the Hittites. The snakes in his court have been revealing themselves ever since the consolation fee he had paid for Princess Mitamun, quite the lump sum, had left the treasury. It was what she would have wanted. This included money for those who had fallen, money to their families, who had willingly fought alongside his own men to survive a common enemy.
A glare from Imhotep resulted in many snapped-shut jaws in court when they had moved to protest. Nobles. He was starting to not see any use for them. He would love to see any of the idiots in his court try to fight the enemy they currently faced. With his luck, they'd all turn traitor and try to kill him.
The information passed back and forth from Egypt and Anatolia was a significant source of accomplishment on his end. The more they knew about demons, the better they could fight them after all, so it was better to pool any information they had together. A strange agreement over Ankhesenamun and her sacrifice had made the two rulers see eye to eye on many things. A strange kinship had formed. Although it involved mostly grunting and a spar or two here and there, it was better than simply wishing for the other's death. Currently, they had agreed to sparring when they were in the same palace, twice a week. Memphis's skills had increased, and Izmir's defense had been put to the test, and showed him weak spots. Memphis had a sharp eye for them, and exploited any he could find, or even made openings for himself. He was quite the challenge indeed.
Recently Prince Izmir had sent word that there had been multiple raids in isolated settlements along the Asian and Egyptian borders. He had sent men to do reconnaissance. He expected them back in a week at most for the closest settlement, and a month for the farthest. Memphis had kept his sister in Lower Egypt, confined to her palace, under his guard's surveillance. The king had pulled her guards off the roster and sent them to the barracks for more training. He didn't trust his sister anymore. This action allowed her fewer opportunities to do anything and made it just a little harder for Set to start anything.
Though he desperately wished he could just clear his court of the snakes, and assign competent people he could trust with tasks asked of them, the current nobles had support from external and internal connections. Eliminating these vipes all in a single swoop would be impossible.
Sekhmet had promised to keep him informed, but she had been scarce since then. He had only received reports from small places, like his reflection in the bronze mirrors telling him the necessities, such as what would help and satisfy his court until 'help would come from the future.'
Not that he knew how to help could come 'from' the future, and not 'in' the future. It just made little sense at all. But Gods worked in odd ways, and he, for one, did not want to piss one off. Especially over something so petty. He stopped pacing in his room and wiped his face with his hand. He removed his crown, the weight of its removal had his neck and shoulders thanking him. He combed his hand through his hair as he dropped his crown carelessly on a trunk beside his bed.
'What would she have done here? I wish I knew what she knew, if only so I could do as she wished. I know she wanted to save our people. I wish I could have saved her.'
He wanted some wine so badly right now, then perhaps to sleep the rest of the afternoon away. Least until one of those buffoons in the court tried to call him back to attend more matters of his kingdom.
'More like yell at me about how to spend money, and that giving so much away made us weaker in the army since we can't train as many soldiers now. Idiots. They want an army instead of peace. Having peace with the Hittites is far more worthwhile than preparing soldiers to fight against them. Especially against Set and his legions of demons. I wish I could permanently silence them. Greedy old bastards. I wish Father could give me clues about how to off them without consequence.' He sat on his bed and put his head in his hands. He was so tired. When was the last time he had gotten any sleep?
I can see her yelling at them. And not as a priestess. She would have made a wonderful queen. But one cannot marry the dead. I miss you, Ankhesenamun. I wish you could come back. Memphis felt frustrated, longing tears building up behind his eyes. Thinking about the woman made his head and heart ache.
"Ankhesenamun," His whisper broke the deafening silence of his room. "Please watch over me…"
The loud banging on his door made him jump. He took a moment to still his heart. "You may enter." The door opened to reveal his well-titled and decorated general. Minue entered and kneeled before his Pharaoh. "Greetings, your Majesty. I trust you are well on this day"
"From the way you speak, this day has already begun with a rotten foundation."
"Indeed. Forgive my utmost honesty, but if I did not know any better, I would say someone was plucking the goose feathers out of all the geese arse's in the courtroom with the way everyone is bickering."
Memphis snorted in amusement.
"Rise Minue. What has brought you here?"
Minue pulled the scroll from his hip and held it out for the king to take. "This letter appeared in the doorway of my rooms. It is addressed to both of us, to be read at our discretion with utmost haste." Memphis snorted and rolled his eyes, waving his hand.
"Leave it over there. It is most likely my sister again. Wanting to return to upper Egypt and the tranquil life she had in the palace. Send her the following message: Your vacation in Lower Egypt will continue until you have visited all the temples across all of Egypt and prayed to them for forgiveness from the gods. You may receive penance from them, but not from me. If you hadn't tried to kill Princess Mitamun, then Ankhesenamun would not have been put into the situation that led to her death."
He dismissed Minue to return to his chambers. The pharaoh moved back to his bed when his general left.
"Which ailment has she chosen this time? Malaria?" He scoffed and sat down on the edge of his bed, peeling the scroll open. To his surprise, it was empty. But the surface looked shiny, metallic, like silver had been pounded thin over its surface, and then polished. There were no hieroglyphs or other languages he knew. No markings at all. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Sekhmet's face appeared out of nowhere. Her voice permeated his head.
"The world is changing. The river's flow unites present and future. The place of stories, both great and small, once again holds key to your salvation."
"Sekhmet! What's going on? I don't understand this!" The image in the scroll rolled its eyes.
"The world is changing. You need something to prepare for it, no? What river do you live off of? Where do the stories come from? Like the one Ankhesenamun told you about? Go there, and the future will meet the past with what you need! Go at once! Go alone!"
Memphis stared at the image. His mind was speeding through what was necessary to do as the goddess had asked. The image in the scroll disappeared, and Memphis sighed and rolled the scroll up again, this time placing it in the secret locked portion of the chest. His fingers flew through the puzzle that needed to be solved to open it.
I wonder how many of them make it a hobby to see what they can get us humans to do for the fun of it?
If he only knew.
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