Chapter Nine- Body and Gender

Bakura mouthed the words and then murmured them, feeling confident in his pronunciation. Now that I've mastered the words, I'm ready to test it. I'll go out invisible to find a pair of test subjects. Then, I'll reappear, touch their chests, chant the spell, and see what happens. Hopefully, they'll end up in the other's body. I won't undo it. They'll stay in the other's body. Bakura laughed as pictured the potential victims trapped as each other. A blaze of gold light came from the passage that led to where he was currently and he turned to see the Sacred Court, Mahad in the forefront, his Item glowing and pointing at him.

Damn, they found me. But, wait. If I switch bodies with Mahad, I'll possess his magic and can escape. Yes, that'll work.

Mahad strode toward him, the others behind him. "Bakura, return the charm and we'll leave you in peace."

"You want it? Then, you'll have it." Bakura put it on, having repaired the strap, put a hand on it, seized Mahad's hand, and chanted the spell.

Isis felt dizzy and lightheaded as her soul left her body and landed in Bakura's body. "No!" she exclaimed in Bakura's voice as she stared at Mahad's body which had a smirk that soon vanished.

"What? Where's your magic?" he asked.

Isis tried on a Bakura-like smirk as she went to Mahad and handed over the charm. "I don't have magic because I'm Isis. Mahad and I switched bodies now three days ago. Mahad still has his magic as it's tied to his soul."

"And I will use it and the charm to return Isis to her body and then reclaim my body." Mahad took Isis' hand, and put a hand on the charm now around his neck, and spoke the counter spell. Their souls swapped places and Isis smiled at Mahad, happy to be herself again.

"Give Bakura the charm and keep hold of him," Mahad instructed her with Bakura's voice. "Seto, if you will stand behind me. You will take Bakura into custody once we switch back."

"Of course." Seto took his place as Isis put the charm around Bakura's neck and the pinned his arms back.

Bakura struggled to get loose and, though he was taller than Isis at this point, she had no trouble keeping his arms immobile. She was clearly stronger than she looked. He saw Mahad come closer, put his hand on the charm and one on himself, and chanted the counter spell. Bakura felt the sensation from before when he first used the spell and when it passed, he found himself looking at Mahad and his arms bound behind him. "Hey! You said you would leave me in peace," he said to Isis who was now beside Mahad.

"That was before you switched places with me," Isis countered. "Now, you will be imprisoned and, later on, judged."

"Furthermore," Mahad added. "You won't get your hands on this charm again." He held the item in his hand, spoke two words, and the charm melted courtesy of a heat spell.

As the group headed out with their prisoner, Isis sidled up to the magician. "You did what I was going to suggest you do with the charm."

"When it got stolen, that's when I realized that it was a dangerous thing to keep around. Bakura proved it when he switched bodies with you."

Isis nodded and then last night's events flitted into her mind as they got outside. She gasped and was about to warn Seto when he grunted and Bakura laughed. Everyone turned to see Seto on the ground and Bakura turning invisible.

"Fools," he sneered, heard but not seen. "You will never catch or hold me for long. One day, I will triumph!" He laughed again and it faded as he escaped into the desert.

"Seto, are you all right?" Aknadin asked as he went to the young man's side.

"I'm fine. He just surprised me with his push." Seto stood up.

"He assaulted you!" Aknadin growled. "When he is judged, it will be a glorious day."

"It will," Mahad agreed. "We will add assault on a member of the Sacred Court to his list of crimes." There were nods as they mounted their horses and headed home.

Atem looked eagerly at his court as they entered. He didn't see Bakura but he knew the young thief was clever and cunning. It would take an equally cunning plan to catch him. However, the smiles on Mahad and Isis' faces were enough to tell him that their primary goal had been fulfilled. "You've switched back."

"Yes, my pharaoh," Mahad answered. "And I destroyed the charm so that no one will steal it again."

Atem nodded. "Good, but it would have been interesting to not be pharaoh for a day." His eyes got a faraway and wistful look as his fantasy would remain just that: A fantasy.

The court exchanged looks at this statement and Mahad said, "I could look for a spell for that, one that does not require a charm or an outside object."

Atem focused on him. "That would be nice, but don't start on that right away."

"As you wish. I am currently learning a spell to temporarily change one's gender. A gift for Isis." He gave her a tender look, deciding to let all know that they were in love with his look.

Aknadin, Shada, and Kalim shared knowing looks; despite the couple's best efforts, they had suspected they were in love. Truthfully, they made a good match.

Mahad looked into the mirror and smiled. Perfect. The image of a brown-eyed brunette woman smiled back. He had spent weeks studying this spell in between his duties, determined to master it and surprise his beloved. Atem had given his permission weeks ago for both of them to be the opposite gender for a time once Mahad got the spell down.

Now that I have, I will be a woman for a little while. She turned and left her room. She once again wore a priestess' robes and was reminded of how they hugged her body. That's okay. I'll get used to it again. Honestly, I like this spell. It simply changed my male state to female. I still have my eye and hair color and my height. Isis is going to be surprised and she will love this spell as well.

She reached Isis' room and knocked. "Come in," she heard and did so. Isis turned with a smile which became a dropped-jaw expression and Mahad smiled in amusement. "Surprise," she said a mature woman's voice.

"Mahad!?" Isis gasped. "Wow, you're beautiful. So, that means the spell works."

"Oh, yes. I tested it and the counter spell last night and both worked perfectly."

"Great. So, that means I'll be a man today."

"Today and for a few days after." She waved a hand to change Isis' robe before casting the gender spell.

Isis felt a warmth spread through her body before it faded and knew she was now male. He opened his eyes and looked up at an admiring Mahad. "Isis, you're very attractive."

Isis went to his mirror to see a black-haired man that had his height. His hair was much shorter and his chest was flat and nicely muscled. "I would have to agree," he answered in a mature man's voice.

Mahad smiled happily at Isis' voice. "Now, remember," she said as they left. "We're supposed to act like our new gender."

"I remember." Isis could hardly forget that stipulation and looked forward to really acting like a man now that his body was truly his own. They stopped outside the Throne Room and he said, "So, as the man of this relationship, I should do this." He took Mahad in his arms and pulled her down into a romantic kiss which Mahad, as a woman, savored and happily accepted.

The End