Hello everyone! My it's been a hot minute! I'm still working on this fabulous story, I'm almost done honestly. Though this world is really tough for me I am pushing through it!

Here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and Yugioh, their characters, settings, etc, belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME!

Chapter 27: Ancient Ways

They were lucky to have visited the ancient Egypt museum before coming here to this realm's past. It helped greatly knowing what little information they had. There was hardly anyone around, save for the occasional guard. No one seemed to even care for their trio; everyone appeared to be too busy to even notice the new residence.

"So...We gotta be in the palace." Max's assumption had been proven true when they overheard some people talking about the Pharaoh's coronation that had just recently been held.

"I think the more pressing matter would be how did we get here in the first place?" Shin did not like this. "Time travel is forbidden, even to us kais.

"Whatever the reason we should start looking around. We might be able to get some answers."

Hikari had become the silent one this time and it worried Max.

"Hey…" He gave his charge a worried glance. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah...Just tired…" She sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Max stopped her.

"I'm not dumb, Hikari...Something's wrong." He gave her a look. "You can tell me...What's up?"

"It's...It's nothing…" She swore. "Can we just--"

"Why didn't you destroy the entity in the other realm?" Max asked. "You had it! It was there, right in front of you! Why didn't you--"

Hikari glared at him. "Do you REALLY want to discuss this stuff in the middle of a hallway?"

"She is right, Max." Shin told him. "We should--"

"I want to know now." Max had become the stubborn one now. "Why didn't you defeat it, Hikari?"

She paused then turned away from him. "We'll talk about this later--"

"No! Now!" Max gripped her arm and spun her around. "You're acting weird..Has the entity possessed you!?"

"No, I'm still me." She frowned at him again. "Although I'm beginning to believe it's in you...Calm down."

Max let her go. "Hikari, I've known you since you were a baby...Something is bothering you…"

Hikari glared at him. "God you are so annoying right now!!!" Her anger was getting the better of her but her emotional state wouldn't let her stop. "You are so darn protective! It's stupid! STUPID! Sometimes I wish you would just GO AWAY!"

Pause.

"Fine...You want me to leave…" He turned his back on her. "I'm gone."

Shin watched the banter, silent. Hikari wiped a tear from her eye.

"Go after him, Shin. He's going to do something stupid, I know it."

Shin frowned at her. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine. Please just go."

Slowly he nodded. "Alright...Stay here, I will return with Max." A brief glance her way before he headed down the hall for Max.

Hikari didn't stay...Instead she continued to walk. She just wanted to be alone, that was the true reason she sent Shin away. Maybe now she could sort through her thoughts.

The entity had such hatred for her, it was stifling. That brief moment they connected she could feel it. It was deep, unbridle hatred. There had been a thought that crossed her mind as protagonist and antagonist joined.

Why couldn't it have been me!? Why did she take my body!?

That hadn't been Hikari's thoughts...Rather...it had been the entity's. This was the reason she asked that question to the Captain Commander. As his words came, Hikari felt instant guilt. Had she, in some moment when spirits went to their reincarnated bodies, driven the entity from its own reincarnation? Was the entity the true soul of Sora and Kairi's child? These thoughts drove her to more guilt and depression. If the answers turned out to be true, then did that mean Hikari was the true evil here? After all...She would have been the cause of all of this madness...That in itself, made her both sad and worried.

Her jumbled mind ignored her feet, the walls mere mist to her. Something jarred her though, and it was a shout from a nearby threshold guarded by two men. Though she didn't dare to walk past them, she could feel something stirring beyond the cloth door they guarded. There was an evil there, one that chilled her to the bones. Another shout yet the guards did not stir. Could they not hear it!?

Instincts kicked in...Hikari tore past the guards and into the room with high ceilings. Her eyes befell a glorious monster above, terrifying and extremely dangerous. Keyblade in hand, she jumped high into the air and stabbed the monster in the back. The monster's howls filled the space as it's form disappeared.

Hikari fell to her feet, sighing. At least she did SOME good...That monster was evil, pure evil. Though it certainly wasn't a Nothing...What could it be? Could it be this world's version of Hollows, those terrifying black monsters with white masked faces? If so she didn't want to think about what their spirit realm looked like here.

"Woman!" A shout brought her back to attention. The guards she had run past were now at her side, their spears aimed at her very throat.

Six sets of eyes were drawn to her now, each belonging to a person in a robe. The only one who bore any color was that of the one dressed in blue and he was glaring with deep hatred at her.

"How dare you interfere with the Pharaoh's court!!!" He screamed at her.

Huh? What…?

"Hold." A commanding voice cut the tension. "Release the woman."

Instantly the guards backed away and took a knee.

"My Pharaoh--" A protest then silence. Hikari's eyes ventured stone steps…There, sitting upon a stone throne, dressed in jewels and finery...Was a man with deep red eyes.

Crap...What did I just do? Hikari froze...She had just waltzed in here without thinking! The Keyblade quickly disappeared and the onlookers gasped. Dang it, Shin is going to have my hide…

"Um…" Her mind went into overdrive. This guy had to be the king right? So...He's like Noctis right? Then…

"Um...Sorry your majesty!" She bowed instantly, hoping it was the correct thing to do. Each realm had its own rulers to be sure but did the same rules apply when addressing them? How was she going to get out of this one!?

"You have saved me and my court…" The Pharaoh said. "I thank you. Name your reward and I shall see it done."

She rose, thanking her lucky stars.

"Um...if I may…" Was she pushing boundaries? Who knew. "What...was that monster?"

"It was the soul of the man who sits before you." One of the robed figures gestured to a body nearby. Hikari jumped in shock. Was the guy dead!? "Do not worry...You merely destroyed the evil within…"

"Oh...Uh...Okay…" She paused. "You...Can do that? Look into the souls of others?'

"Indeed." Another robed person stated.

She took a deep breath.

"...If you please...Sir...I've...a request…" Hikari was hesitant.

"What do you wish, girl?" The priest dressed in blue regarded her with deep suspicion.

"Could you...do the same to me? I...Need to know...If...I'm the right soul…" She frowned. "I...Found out something and...It…"

"You wish to know if you contain a monster." the lone robed woman said. "A noble request. If your soul proves to be tainted, you realize what might happen…"

"Yes…" Hikari said. "Please." She was desperate. She NEEDED to know.

The Pharaoh had been quiet then raised his hand. "So be it."

A nod and one of the robed people came up to Hikari. He held out an oddly looking golden item towards her.

"Let us see what lies beneath." Then thrust the item into her chest.

Next Time: Pharaoh's Blessing