Konton no Millennia

by Miss00Meg

The Pharaoh's patron goddess has resurrected herself in human form and is using Seto Kaiba to regain her Millennium Item and stop a new threat from exacting its vengeance on the pharaoh, not to mention the catalyst has a mind of her own!

11. Pure Love's Strength!

A/N: Can you believe he had green hair once? It makes me so sad! By the way, what on earth compelled the animators to give Seto his outfits in Season (which season did he have the funky white outfit?) 4, and 3, and well.all of them! So, you asked for it, you've begged for it, got mad when I didn't give it, and now I've heard it, and so, hear it is! Chapter 11 of Konton No Millennia, over fifty pages long! So, what are you still reading this thing for? Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! But Rena's mine!

+~+~+~+~

Konton no Millennia

Chapter Eleven: Pure Love's Judgment!

By, Rena Campbelle

He sat there, staring at the ceiling, until the clock glared 3:45. He turned away, blinking back sleep, his eyes rimmed and bloodshot. Today was the day, the day they set out for Mana Ka'reph and would retrieve the Millennium Rapier. He glared at the clock; enjoying himself with all the wonderful ways he would smash it if he ever had the energy to get up. His head ached furiously from the dream. No, more like a nightmare.

+~+~Dream+~+~

"Seto! Get up you worthless little boy!" The man sneered.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Gozaburo. I'll try harder," the boy protested.

"Don't you dare talk to me that way!" he shouted, firmly boxing the boy on the ears. He looked up at his father, his whole head ringing, stars pricking at the edges of his eyes. "You'll never become a good businessman if you don't learn to respect those senior to you." He bent down so he was eye to eye with him, "But by the time I'm done with you, you won't have to worry about that. You're going to be the best whether you like it or not."

"Yes sir," the boy said. He had been eight years old.

The scene flashed to a dark room, with him and Mokuba sitting on the floor.

"Brother, Gozaburo hurt you again today, didn't he?"

"Yes, Mokuba."

"Why does he hurt you?"

"Because I must be the best," the boy looked over his brother's head, out at the twilight sky.

"I think you're the best right now," the boy said cheerfully.

Seto looked down at his younger brother, "No, but I swear to you, someday I will be, and someday, you'll have everything."

"Oniichan," the boy looked at him fear clouding his eyes, and then the floor opened beneath them. Mokuba dropped from sight, all the while shouting, "Seto!"

"Mokuba!" he cried, holding his hand out to his brother, who was falling further away. He couldn't move, he couldn't jump after him, couldn't save him, he was helpless.

And then the laugh, the laugh he had heard so many times before, derisive and scathing.

Then he felt himself being lifted up by his collar, off his feet, face to face with Gozaburo. "You stupid boy!" He said before dropping him down on the floor.

He was a little boy again, in far over his head, afraid for both his brother and himself. A little boy, unable to do anything to stop the world from turning, unable to keep those he loved safe. Just a little boy, scared and helpless, once again.

+~+~End+~+~

He found himself staring at the clock once more; the time now was 4:20. He tried to concede to sleep, but every time his eyes shut, Mokuba was etched inside his mind. He couldn't let him come along with them on their return to Egypt, but he certainly couldn't let him stay by himself at home. He'd have to find some sort of caretaker for Mokuba while they were gone. He was sure Yuugi would take him, but his sense of pride was too bigheaded to let his brother stay with his main rival. He was still unable to get over the fact at how many times Yami and Yuugi had saved his life. But he really wasn't left with any choice, was he?

Seto's mind was made up; he would have to leave Mokuba with Yuugi and his grandfather, while he was in Egypt. He tossed onto his side, trying to force himself to sleep. Seto was just about to drift away when he felt something cold and wet on his hand. He jumped up out of bed, half expecting a two-headed demon to be standing behind him or worse. But instead, the curious eyes of Amun looked up at him.

"You stupid dog!" he cried, "You scared me half to death!" The dog merely cocked his head at him, and rolled over to expose its belly. When Seto didn't lean down to scratch it, Amun just looked at him expectantly, and let out a bark.

"All right, all right," Seto rubbed his hand down the dog's belly, grumbling to himself, "Filthy animal."

The dog yipped its thanks, then rolled over again, and Seto started to scratch the top of his head, the way he had seen Rena do. Then another cold nose nudged his bare back. He turned around to see Seshat, who immediately rolled over herself into his lap. Seto patted her belly, and scratched Amun's head, until they both jumped up on him and started to lick his face.

"Stop it, stop it!" he growled, but the dogs paid him no mind. Instead they continued to cover him in their unending affections, until all three of them were tumbling on the floor.

"Brother!" Mokuba laughed, joining the fray.

"Mokuba," Seto stood up, and gave a look at his brother, "aren't you up a little early?"

"What do you mean, oniichan?"

Seto looked at the clock, which now read 8:45. He had accumulated about one hour of sleep. It figured.

"Oniichan, you look tired," Mokuba commented, picking himself up off the floor.

"I'm going to be fine," he smiled, for Mokuba's sake.

"Let's go eat breakfast," Mokuba said, leading him by the hand to the dining hall.

Rena was already down there, but she looked like she hadn't slept very well either. She wore an oversized t-shirt, with "Yank" emblazoned across it in large, red letters and a pair of comfortable looking jeans. He guessed this was probably the kind of stuff she wore when she was excavating. She gave him a weak smile, then stood up and excused herself from the table.

He looked at his brother, "Is Rena okay?"

Mokuba shrugged, "I don't know. The only thing she said to me was, 'Good morning, Moku.'"

"I see," Seto eased into a seat.

"You're going to leave me here when you go to Egypt, aren't you?"

He looked up at his brother, surprised, "Am I that transparent?"

"Only around me," he smiled, "I have to go with you."

"No, you need to stay here."

"Please!"

"No," he raised his voice.

Mokuba looked down, scowling, "I never do anything with you. You treat me like a kid!"

"You're eleven! How should I treat you?" He blurted.

"I know, but I just feel so helpless whenever I get left out of things. I could help too."

Seto looked at his brother, "You are too young! You're still too green to fight responsibly, and I swore I'd never put you in danger. It's not happening. You will stay with Yuugi and his friends while we're away. And when we return."

"I'll be stuck here again."

Mokuba was so upset. He so desperately wanted to prove himself, and Seto could see it. "No, you'll come with us."

"Nani? Oh, arigatou! Domo arigatou, oniichan!" He jumped up and hugged his brother, as tight as he could.

"You'll be on your guard with us, right?" he looked at his younger brother.

"Oh yeah!" Mokuba pumped his fist in the air.

Seto heaved a sigh, "Well, that was one battle narrowly avoided."

Regius walked out with two breakfast trays, laying one in front of each brother. "No thanks," Seto said, pushing his away, "I'm not in the mood."

"Very good sir," the butler drawled, picking his tray back up and carrying it inside to the kitchens. Seto noticed he did leave the mug of coffee where it was.

He picked it up and took a sip, it was strong. That was good; he'd need the extra caffeine. He unfolded his paper, examined his stock quotes. Things were up again; he'd better sell them off before the stock declined. He figured it would go down a few points in the next week. He had left his company in the care of his top executives for a short while, but unlike the others, felt he could trust them. Which was all well and good to a point. No matter how much he was able to rely on these men, he couldn't be so faithful to their corporate expertise. They didn't have the pressure of making the big decisions. They could take orders, but couldn't give them. They weren't true businessmen like him, more like business-monkeys. They would juggle around the stocks until things came down a point or two, and then spend the rest of their time trying to raise it back up. Then, several more points would be lost because of their futile efforts. It would be just another thing for him to fix when he got back.

"Regius," he motioned to his butler, "Make sure you put about a third of my shares up for sale in about a week, and then buy up a few more to replace it." This was actually not so bad. He could sell his shares for a lovely price, and then pick some up while they were cheap. Some people called it underhanded; he preferred to think of it as improving his assets.

He stood up from the table and walked outside. His chauffeur was already there waiting. He stepped inside the car, and they took off. The small phone rang, and he picked it up, "Where to, sir?"

"Turtle Game Shop."

"Very good sir." Then his cell phone rang, opening it he sighed, "Hello?"

"Where are you running off to?" Rena's voice chided him over the phone.

He turned around in his seat to see Rena sitting on her balcony, watching him pull out of the drive.

"Yuugi's."

"Why?"

"I need to talk to Yami."

"Not to be redundant, but why?"

"Personal matters."

"Well then. That's a new one." She laughed over the phone, and then hung it up with a noisy click.

"Baka onna," he mumbled, and shifted into his seat, letting the sun lull him to sleep.

+~+~+~+~

Yuugi watched as the limo pulled up into his driveway. The driver walked to open the door, and instead of Rena, who he was expecting, Kaiba strode out the door, tugging at his clothes, which looked a little rumpled. He walked over to the door and let Kaiba inside, who walked back to their main family room. Looking around, he asked, "Where's Yami?"

"Strike that," Yuugi thought, "more like an order." But instead replied, "He's out. What's the matter, Kaiba?"

"I'm concerned about Egypt, and I need a lead."

"What kind of lead?"

"I don't really know yet."

"But I thought you knew where the Rapier was."

"Rena does."

"She hasn't told you yet?"

"She never talks about it, and she rarely talks."

"Well, what did you do to her?" Mai asked, walking in the door.

"What do you mean? I didn't do anything," Seto protested.

Mai just shrugged, and walked upstairs. "Jounochi!" she called. He ran downstairs with Honda lagging behind, and all three turned and headed outside.

When they were gone, Yuugi looked at Kaiba, "Well, have you two been in an argument?"

"No!"

"Sorry," he said, "But you never know how women will react."

"I prefer to keep myself ignorant in that area."

"From what the papers say, you like to specialize in that area," he laughed when Seto gave him his most winning death glare.

"The sleazy journalism god," he began.

"Is good to his followers," Yuugi supplied, "I've heard that one before."

Seto allowed himself a patronizing smile, "I guess you have. But that's not what I need to talk about. Yuugi, you've always preached about the Heart of the Cards. Will that do me any good in Egypt?"

Yuugi stared at him. Seto did very much not like to discuss anything about the Heart of the Cards, or anything that involved physical emotions aside from contempt and cruelty. "I guess it might help. But what you're doing there goes far over playing cards, what you're doing is recovering a piece of the Shadow Games itself."

Seto walked away, putting an arm up against the new windows and leaned on it. "Remember the Duelist Kingdom tournament?"

"Very well," Yuugi shuddered.

"Do you think he has anything to do with it?"

"He's dead."

"Spirits only die when they are judged by Osiris," Seto looked out the window.

"You've been paying attention to Rena, I see," Yuugi joked.

"It's all she used to talk about."

"Kaiba," Yuugi looked hard at him, trying to figure out what he was getting at, but he was nowhere near as good as Yami when it came to reading people. "What are you trying to say?"

"The Heart of the Cards has not served me well. I'm thinking about going back as the old Seto Kaiba."

"You haven't served the Heart of the Cards well either. You can't blame it on just that. And no one liked the old Seto Kaiba."

"Not Death-T old, more like Duelist Kingdom old."

"Great," Yuugi sighed, "We all want to deal with that again."

"This is no joke!" He cried.

"No it's not," Yuugi countered. "But you can't expect good to come of it. Have faith in yourself, and maybe you won't be so totally helpless!"

Seto looked at him, his eyes wide in amazement. Neither of them had expected Yuugi to say something like that. Especially not Yuugi.

Seto looked at Yuugi, the little runt! And then, he just laughed. Never in a million years would he have thought Yuugi to stand up for himself in front of him! It was amazing! Maybe the little shrimp was growing up after all.

"Maybe I don't need to talk to Yami, after all." Seto shrugged.

"Are you leaving today?"

"Yeah, you guys mind watching Mokuba while we're gone?"

"Not at all. But I have to admit, Yami really wanted to go with you two."

"Why?"

"He wants to aid the goddess in whatever way he can."

"Then tell him to take a number."

Yuugi raised his eyebrows; "I'll have grandpa pick up Mokuba by noon."

"Sounds fine. See you, Yuugi."

"See you."

Kaiba turned on his heel, and strode out the door. He jumped in his ride, slamming the door shut before the chauffeur even had a chance to. They sped away, and Yuugi turned, falling into a chair.

"Something wrong, aibou?"

He looked up at Yami, who had come in through the backdoor, "You just missed Kaiba."

"So I noticed. What did he want?"

"I have almost no idea."

+~+~+~+~

Rena watched as the car pulled up the drive and Seto stormed out, looking a little dissatisfied. She slid off the balcony, stepping into her room, and into the shower. She whistled slightly as she rinsed the scent of the sea from her hair, and tread out of her bath with a slight spring in her step. She was much more positive about this than Seto had been. After all, Egypt was like her second home. It was where she belonged, now and forever. She changed into a loose pair of pants, and threw on her "Yank" t-shirt, then tied on her favorite pair of hiking boots. She grabbed a brush, and slid it through her hair, blow-dried it down, then twisted it into a long braid down her back. She pulled a few wisps down to frame her face, the way Mai had done to her hair the other day, then picked up her materials, the scroll, and her gifts, and headed out the door. Seto was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. He was looking at Mokuba who was walking out the door with Motou Sugoroku, a small overnight bag clutched in his fist.

"Bye Rena!" he called. "Make sure you tell me all about your adventures!"

"I will," she smiled, and at that moment, felt so compelled to pick that little boy up in her arms, and never let go. She had become so attached to him, felt like she had known him all her life, and not just a month. He was her little brother too now.

"Bye you guys!" he called one last time, running out the door.

She glided down the stairs, giving Seto her usual once-over. Sure, this guy had a strange sense of fashion, but this.was ridiculous.

He was dressed in probably the most uncomfortable outfit she had ever seen. Seto wore a long, white, silver-studded overcoat that stretched to just past his knees, and underneath it all, he wore a pair of astringent leather pants, the belt buckle engraved with the letters "KC." His shirt was a black cotton turtleneck, and he wore two leather straps on each side of his arm. Around his neck was a necklace tied to a small, Dueling card-shaped locket. "I'll never figure the man out," she sighed to herself.

He looked at her approvingly, "You look comfortable."

"You don't," she countered.

"I'm surprised you haven't learned my standards."

"Whenever I see you, you're not dressed as.as.a." she gripped for a statement, but found herself at a loss for words.

"I think I look rather urbane," he checked his outfit.

She sniggered, "I can't tell if you're joking or not. How scary is that?"

"It frightens me," he said mordantly.

"Let's just go."

"You got the goods?"

"Please, your choice of words stimulates my intellect," she picked up her bag and headed out the door.

He called after her, "Where do you think you're going?" He gestured to a side panel, "Come on." He turned a painting over, revealing a small scanner in the side of the door. He stepped up to it, and a laser shot out, scanning his eye before mechanically declaring, "Welcome back, Seto Kaiba."

"Cool," she whistled, stepping into the secret complex. "Strike that, incredible."

"Thanks," he said curtly, then stopped off at another door, punching in a brief password. The door slid open with a silent swish, and the two strode inside. He hit a small light switch on a panel, just before he opened another door, this time it was much larger.

It rose with a mechanical whir just as the lights switched on.

Rena struggled for breath when she saw it.

"Kaiba Corp's pride and joy, a toy only the richest man in the world could afford. It has six engines, each with a capable force to go up to. . .well, really, really fast." He stepped up to the sleek, black jet. "I always had a fondness for first-class travel."

"It's at times like this when I hate you the most," she gasped.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He opened the doors, "Egypt in two hours?"

"Two hours?"

"Oh yeah."

She smiled at him; he was just like a little boy, who had just received his first present, even though this was a hundred million dollar jet. It was times like this she felt so at ease around him, when an excited, zeal shone in his face like a kid's, breaking through his cool, composed exterior. She felt privileged to see it.

+~+~+~+~

"We should be over Giza now," he commented. "You see anything."

"Just the pyramids. Did you know.?"

"Not right now," he sighed, "Lecture me when I'm in a better mood."

"Well," she pointed a finger at him, "You got cranky fast."

"Where do we need to go?" he sighed.

She looked at him, a sudden quiet filling her. She whispered, "Cairo, stop in Cairo." She looked out the window, watching as the pyramids passed her by. How magnificent they must have been, standing majestically until the time of the Hyksos, she wished she had been there to see it.

"Hello, Rena. Are you there?"

She looked over to see Seto's hand, he was waving it in her face; she grabbed it and pushed it away. "Are we there?" she asked.

"You tell me."

She looked out her window; they were in a private airport complex. She could see the skyline, traced by the city of Cairo.

I'm home. Megami whispered.

We both are. Rena agreed.

"You ready?" Seto asked her.

"I guess."

"Not good enough," he smiled at her.

"Fine, I'm ready!"

"That's more like it!" he laughed. The cockpit door opened and the two scrambled out. From there they drove out in a taxi, much to Seto's discontent. The car bumped along the unpaved road, and Seto was flung against with window four times, and hit his head on the roof twice. Rena simply braced herself against the seat and the doorjamb, hoping it wouldn't give before they got there, she was used to this routine. They pulled up next to a modish building that Rena presumed was their hotel, and the driver hopped out and opened Rena's door. He gave her a toothy smile, but she'd rather he'd have kept his mouth shut; it looked like he hadn't seen a very good dentist in a while. Smoothly, he held out a hand for her, but nonetheless, she ignored it, and stepped out into the Egyptian sunlight. Upset, the driver shut the door before Seto had a chance to climb out. He threw open the door, jammed a wad of bills in the drivers hand, pushed the poor man back into his car, and stormed away, Rena hot on his heels.

"Remind me never to make you mad," she whistled.

"It's a little late for that, you aggravate me every day."

"Aw, the kind words of compassion," she giggled and ran up in front of him into the hotel. "I'm home!"

"Home?" Seto asked, "I thought you lived in New York."

"Yes, but I've always been at peace in Egypt. This is so wonderful!"

"Whatever," he sighed, and steered her by the shoulders to the reception desk. "Kaiba," he snipped to the young man, who immediately punched in a few codes on his keyboard. He slid over to a panel covered in gold keys, picked two from the wall, and handed them to Seto.

"Your rooms are upstairs, sir," he said brightly, "And enjoy your stay."

The two set off for the elevator, and Rena pushed the "Up" button. Three other people gathered in as well, bunching Rena and Seto into the back. One, a middle-aged woman, presumably a tourist by her pale complexion gave Seto a demeaning glare, and whispered to her husband, "I can't believe what they wear these days." The husband gave a quick glance at Seto, and then turned away. The third, most likely their younger daughter, took a look at Seto and immediately started, "I'm Claire." But thankfully, the door opened and Claire's parents pulled her away and down the hall, while Seto and Rena took off in the opposite direction.

Their rooms were colossal; each furnished with state-of-the-art technology, and designed to a king's taste. It was incredible. The walls were sandy stucco, the furniture in a carmine rose. It was like a stylized sunset.

"Very nice," Rena said, "It's at times like this when I love being your friend."

He chose to refrain from the sarcastic remark he was about to make, and left her to enjoy the view. He unlocked his own room, which was furnished identically to Rena's. He set down his bag, and walked into Rena's room through their adjoining door. She was still outside on the balcony, gazing at the skyline. He stood beside her, and for the first time, actually looked at her.

Her hair was glimmering golden and silver, there were only streaks and patches of rich brown, and her eyes were like twin amethysts. They sparkled and shone with intelligence and charisma, and through that gaze was an entirely different woman, one who would do anything to see her friends' safe again. She was transfixed with the sky; he doubted she had even heard him come over. His hand rose slowly to trail across her tanned cheek. She shuddered under his touch, but still stared out at the sky, and his hand wandered down her neck and traced the hidden muscle under the delicate flesh of her arm. His mind was racing, and so he pulled away, confused, retreating back into his own room, and threw himself face-down onto his bed.

She walked in a short time after, her face the image of mystification. "Was someone in my room?'

He turned over and propped himself against a pillow, "You really don't remember?"

"Remember what?" she asked, turning to face the window.

He sat up all the way, "I was in your room. But you were in a trance, completely not there."

She sat down beside him on the bed, "It's strange, that's been happening more often. I'm just standing somewhere, and then, if I hold my gaze too long, or my attention become too distant, I drift away. I think Megami has something to do with it. I think she's starting to remember something."

"Something?" Seto looked at her curiously, "Something like what?"

"I don't know. Megami is always so hidden from me. She comes and goes as she pleases," Rena put a hand to her forehead.

"Hey, don't worry about it, maybe something'll happen when we find the Rapier," Seto said, hesitantly placing an arm on her shoulder.

She stared at the hand on her shoulder, trekking with her eyes up his arm to his face, to his lonely eyes. The cold blue eyes that so deftly averted hers, the eyes of the little boy that longed for recognition. "Well you have it now, Seto Kaiba," she thought, "And now no one in the world could rob you of it. Not you, not you." The thought grazed her tongue, but she bit the words back, and replaced them with, "I'm glad you're not afraid to touch me anymore."

He looked back at her and grinned, "Maybe girls don't have as many cooties as I thought."

"That was the worst comeback I have ever heard!" she fell back on the bed laughing.

A tinge stained his cheeks as he lay back as well, "We'd better get some sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow."

"Fine, killjoy," she snipped, and turned back to her room.

"Oh, and one more thing, Miss Rena," he added.

She turned around to face him, "Oh, what now?"

"No taxis."

She laughed and pressed the door shut. Her fingers grazed over the lock, but pulled away, it was unnecessary.

"Damn you, Kaiba," she fumed, "I'm going to fall for you yet!" She peeled off her clothes, and stepped into a pair of lounge pants, and threw on a tanktop.

She was asleep before she hit the pillow.

+~+~+~+~

Seto stretched, walking out onto the balcony. It was a cool morning, and the wind played with his face, caressing it almost sensually. The Nile was a blood red against the rising sun, and the sky was a rosy hue, streaked with blues and golds, chasing away the scattered remains of the night. This was a beautiful country; he could understand why Rena felt so much for it. The markets were already busy; he could see them just beyond the hotel's courtyards. He stood there, letting the wind play at him, until he felt her slide beside him, and wrap an arm around his neck. He returned the gesture by squeezing her hand.

"You up to this?" she whispered.

"No, but let's get going anyway," he admitted. Her small snicker forced a sigh out of him, and he turned to his bathroom to get dressed.

"Again?" she cried when he stepped out, "You wore that yesterday!"

"Yes, but this one's clean."

She opened her mouth, "I don't want to start the day this way."

"Why not? It's becoming routine. I might feel awkward if we didn't argue."

"Awkward, my ass!"

"Such a sharp tongue for such a pretty girl," he smiled.

She was both enraged and flattered by the remark, "A woman's sword is her tongue, and she does not let it rust."

"Profound." He walked off to signal the driver he had hired from the hotel.

Biting down on the long stream of insults she was just about to deliver, Rena stepped inside the limo and gave her worst scowl at Seto.

"You look simply ravishing, my desert flower."

"Bite me."

He smiled at her, and raised his eyebrows.

"Perv."

"I wasn't implying anything."

"Shut up and let's go."

He laughed and said to the driver, "You heard the lady, shut up and let's go."

Rena's jaw dropped as the chauffeur raised a bushy eyebrow at her. She slumped back into her seat and scowled at the back of the passenger seat as the car roared off.

+~+~+~+~

"So, where are we going?" Seto asked.

"What?"

"Where are we going? You know, to find the Rapier?" He looked at her expectantly. "Well.?"

"Hold on, gosh, have a shred a patience, will you?" she snapped back.

He frowned and leaned against the seat, "Whenever you're ready."

She pulled out her notebook, "Well, I think it's in Thebes but something here is puzzling me."

"Now you've caught my interest," Seto said, "What's up?"

"It's a riddle to where the Rapier is." She quoted her notes, "Look for us in the city of the Living, O Goddess of Light and nurturing. We will be hidden in the farthest sanctum in the deepest eye of the brightest light. From there you will seek the Embodiment of Fallen Allies, and fight the Entities among them. Only you who is righteous and just may enter our sacred resting place and retrieve the blade with which to exact the laws of the gods."

"I'm shaking."

"This is serious!" she cried, "This is where the Rapier is. Thebes is the city of the living. But the farthest sanctum in the deepest eye of the brightest light, who knows what on earth that is."

"Well, it's in Thebes."

"Gee, that only narrows it down to one of the biggest cities in Egypt."

"Oh," he looked out the window, his gaze caught on a nearby mastaba, "I have to admit, the pyramids are amazing."

"That reminds me, did you know, that the pyramids of Giza are correlated to the position of Osiris in the sky?"

"No."

"Well, Orion the Hunter was Osiris to the Ancient Egyptians, and they think he might have been astrological inspiration to the building of the Great Pyramids. Oh my God!" she gasped. "That's it!"

"What?" Seto cried, "What's it!"

"It's the key! It's astrological, or visible from the sky! We need to get a plane, or something!"

"Driver!" Seto barked. The man jumped and crushed the break down. "We need to get to an air base." He was already pulling out his cell phone, and dialing down a number, as the driver sped up and roared down the empty desert highway.

Rena already had her notebook out, why she hadn't she realized it sooner? The riddle was backwards! The brightest light, duh! It was Ra, the sun! The deepest eye of the sun was as Ra-Harakhte, when Ra joined with Horus as the youthful disk of the rising sun, and of course, it was also the center of the eye of Horus. And that would have been the sun as well! Horus was also the patron of Yami, the mark of Horus's eye, or the wadjet eye, glimmered on his forehead sometimes, and even sparked on Megami's. It all made sense! The farthest sanctum would be revealed in the rising sun's light over the city of Thebes. Mana Ka'reph would be revealed. Take that, Oxford University!

"You did it," Seto sighed, "You really did it!"

"Well of course I did," she laughed triumphantly.

He joined her laugh, "Well where is it, goddess?"

"It will be revealed in the rising sun at the city of Thebes, and then, we'll know where the Rapier is. I'm positive," she smiled and closed her notebook with a jubilant snap. By the time their celebration had ended, the driver was pulling into the lot of an air base outside of Cairo. The two stepped out of the car and into the terminal of airbase; amazed at the bustle of activity.

A man in a turban greeted them formally, "Mr. Kaiba, I beg you and your accomplice to please follow me this way." The man bowed, and led them out to a runway where a singled chopper gleamed in the sunlight. "This is what you were expecting?"

"Yes, thank you," Seto nodded.

The man bowed once more, "Please accept my apology, but this craft will not be available to you until later tonight. It is being serviced and refueled, and a craft of this advancement takes time for my workers to clean."

"That's fine," Seto said curtly, "We won't need it until later." He gestured to Rena, "Let's go look around."

+~+~+~+~

There was a souk just outside the base where traveling merchants sold their goods. Rena was accustomed to the haggling shouts of the merchants, persuading the weary shopper to purchase honorable someone-or-other's goods, but she found Seto slightly unnerved by it.

"I don't want it!" he yelled to one dealer, who kept pushing an "authentic" Ancient Egyptian piece of jewelry, supposedly straight from the crest of King Tutankhamun himself.

"Are you sure? I swear this was handed down through the centuries from Pharaoh's hands. Not even Carter himself knew about it."

"Actually, Tutankhamun wore the pectorals of Aten, after his father, Akhenaten, until his own reign, and this is a preadolescent pectoral. You see that mark there, yes, that's Old Kingdom for Ra. And these blue stones, they're imitation glass given a dusty coat for effect. This is counterfeit, and not very cleverly made either. Let's go," she walked off.

"You scare me sometimes," Seto said, jogging up behind her.

"I'm not majoring in Egyptology to be fooled by some third-rate salesman." She walked to another stand, run by a woman covered in scarves and cloth. "However," she picked up a handbag crafted from delicate leather, "This is very nice." Seto took out his wallet, "How much is it?"

Rena repeated the question back to woman in Arabic, and the woman gave her a quick reply. Her brows furrowed, and she asked a few more questions. Again, the woman's responses were sharp and quick. Rena's paled a little bit, then she grabbed Seto's arm and dragged him away from the stand.

"It couldn't have been that expensive he joked.

"It wasn't just that, it was why it was so expensive," she gulped, pushing through the crowd.

"Why was it so expensive?" he pressed.

"You don't want to know," she said conclusively.

"Yes I do," Seto persisted.

"Fine, two words, and only two. Blue. Lotus." Rena walked off down a side ally, Seto in tow.

"I don't get it."

"Will shut up already?" she cried. "Now come on, there's something here I think we're gonna need to see."

"Like what?"

"The excavation at Thebes. The information is classified, but they're funding comes straight from the heart of Yume Shinkirou Industries."

"You mean, they never really told you?" he exclaimed.

"I know, but no one really thought to ask. I think they're looking for the Rapier too. Or at least some of them are, the rest are probably normal archaeologists. That's why we need to get down there, and soon," she signaled for a taxi, but Seto grabbed her hand and yanked it down.

"Now Miss Campbelle, no taxis I said," he mocked.

"Then whither shalt our ride be, good sir?" she asked, matching his tone.

He stifled a laugh, "Come now, yon merchant will assist."

"I prithee, what good does yonder merchant bring?" she giggled.

"Well, milady, doth thine own eyes not give way to yon merchant's able?" Seto was enjoying himself.

"Hark and pray! Doth mine own eyes deceive me! You say in sooth, this merchant shall be able to supply our suited needs!" Rena nearly laughed for the mischievous gleam Seto had in his eyes. The "merchant" was carrying motorcycles, bikes, and mopeds of every shape and size.

Seto strode up exultantly to the salesman, who was dressed in an undersized, badly fitted suit. Rena laughed, amazing the things that connect us around the world. Seto declared proudly, "I prithee, kind sir, what wares have you for mine lady and I?"

"Give me the girl, and you can have anything on my lot," the dealer smiled.

Seto gave the man his worst death glare, "I'd rather not. Just show me around."

The dealer crumbled underneath Seto's stare. "Yes, yes, please follow me."

"Do you pride yourself on being able to reduce a person's pride to that of a shriveled prune just by looking at them?" Rena smiled up at Seto.

"Just maybe."

The dealer came to a moped, "This is fuel efficient, and can get you all the way across Thebes in, oh, about forty-five minutes," he remarked.

"How far away is the site?" he asked Rena.

"About an hour away from Thebes."

"Would that get us there in good time?"

"If good time translates into five hours."

"No good," Seto told the dealer. "We need something fast."

"Ah," the man remarked wisely, "Then follow me, I believe I have what you need." He led them to an indoor garage, where a single motorcycle rested, it's chrome exterior illuminated by show lights.

"The pride of my shop," the vendor exclaimed, "Coming straight from Japan itself, I present to you this."

"Will it get us there?" Seto asked Rena again.

"In an hour, maybe less."

"We'll take it," Seto said to the man.

"How would you like to pay for it?" the dealer questioned.

"How about we pay for it now, drive off the lot, and I never have to deal with you again," Seto recommended.

"Seto," Rena said, "You didn't exchange your money when we got here."

"That's because I carry universal currency, my naïve friend. Let me introduce you to the Gold Card." He handed it to the man, who took it to a credit register and swiped the card.

He came back carrying the card, several papers, and a single key, "These are your leases, and of course, here is the key." The man turned back to the shop.

"Excuse me," Seto growled, "My card."

"Oh yes, how foolish of me," the salesman stammered, handing the card back to Seto.

Rena laughed, "Let's go." She snatched the key, as the dealer lifted the garage. She climbed onto the seat and revved the engine, coasting to the edge of the lot. "I'm driving!" she cried.

"Correction," Seto smirked, "You think you're driving. My toy, I drive."

"No fair!" Rena pretended a pout, but climbed off to let Seto in the driver's spot. She hopped on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and they took off for the edge of Thebes.

+~+~+~+~

"There it is!" she shouted above the clouding dust and roaring engine.

"Where?" Seto yelled.

"Over there!" she pulled a hand free and pointed east, where she could see several tents and makeshift buildings dotting the landscape. Seto swerved the motorcycle around, gunning the engine.

Five minutes later they sped into the site, frightening several workers, and parked next to a beat-up truck.

"Reminds me of home," Rena sighed. "The dust, the grime, the hot days and freezing nights. I love this place," she sniffled and pretended to wipe away a tear.

Seto smirked, "Location does everything."

A timid looking man walked out from a tent. He raised his hand, and Rena shook it amiably. "My name is Professor Shivern, though you may hear some students calling me Professor Shivers behind my back. Just a little prank," he chuckled pleasantly.

Rena stared at the man. He was a quivering mess! He had uncontrollable shakes; it was like he was suffering from a constant seizure! And with Seto looming almost a foot above him, he looked like walking death. The poor man had no business being out here excavating! She looked over at Seto and could see he was thinking the same thing.

Suddenly, Seto got that gleam in his eye, the malicious glitter of a sarcastic remark. However, Rena nudged him roughly in the ribs and said, "I'm Rena Campbelle, working down in the IECI site." She pulled out her credentials and handed them to the Professor.

"Very impressive, Miss Campbelle," Professor Shivern amended. "Very impressive!" He scanned through them more intensely, "Olden glyphs, that's remarkable! Only about ten people in the whole world can speak these fluently! And you're only twenty! You could very well be a prodigy!" He was trembling, well he was perpetually trembling, but now his shudders had doubled with excitement.

"You're twenty!" Seto cried.

"Duh."

"I didn't think you were that old!"

"Well, how old are you?" she asked.

"Nineteen!"

"No!"

"This is wrong," Seto said darkly, "Very wrong."

"Excuse me," Professor Shivern squeaked, "But what is your business here, Miss Campbelle?"

"We wanted to know the statistics for your dig," she replied.

"Why? That's classified information under the government of Egypt!" He yelped.

"We do have a reason," Rena acknowledged, "We think there might be a connection between the dig here, and the IECI's down at Mando Nashti'ora."

"I thought it was Mana Ka'reph."

"That's what we thought too, but Mana Ka'reph is a different temple entirely. The one we are at now is kind of like Ka'reph's direct inferior. It was a mistake of schematics," she confessed.

"Then where is Ka'reph?" The professor squawked.

Rena caught the look Seto gave her, "We're still looking for it."

"Oh, I see," the professor said, disheartened. "Well, I give you our post info." He sat down at a computer and began to type fiercely.

Rena took a seat by a computer, nudging the mouse with her elbow. The monitor popped up, having been awakened, and a computer program activated. "Glyph for Windows 02, huh?" she amended. "Ours is kinda out of date. It's only a 99 version."

"Really?" the professor looked up from his screen for a second, "Is that so?"

"What's Glyph for Windows?" Seto asked, leaning across her shoulder.

"Glyph for Windows is a hieroglyphic text-processing program, that can run along with Microsoft Windows. With the program, hieroglyphic text can be easily processed and printed out in sharp quality by any printer, and are entered in code form through Gardiner numbers and the glyphs' phonetic form. It can produce any form of text, simple or complex, signs can even be shaded to represent damaged or partly lost signs. It can also create cartouches, Serekhs, and Hwt-enclosures," she said, turning to face the monitor. The screen was already filling with text from the previously saved document. Her eyes skimmed it, haphazardly, "Wait." Her eyes reduced to slits as she read further, "This is strange."

"What?" Professor Shivern asked.

"Oh, n-nothing," she stammered. She nudged the mouse up to the print icon, and clicked it. With a barely audible whir, the document slid out, and Seto grabbed it, quickly hiding it under his coat.

Rena looked at him and rolled her eyes, "Secret agent man, well done, Bond."

"That's Mr. James Bond."

She shook her head and laughed. "Are you almost done, Professor Shivern?"

"Actually, I am done," he was gazing at the printer, several pages already rolling out. "Just a couple more minutes." It took even less time. The laser printer had everything from the schematics of the dig site, to the names of all members partaking in it.

"Thanks so much, Professor Shivers, Shivern," Rena smiled pleasantly and walked out of the tent.

"Now where?" Seto asked her.

"I was right," Rena said, ignoring Seto's question, "They were looking for it." Her eyes were skimming off the printed document. Seto had taken it out of his coat, and she was already reading through it.

"They couldn't have been!" Seto ignored his own question as well. "Could they?"

"Of course! The document I printed back there was a message on how to defeat the Embodiment of Fallen Allies!"

"The Embodiment of what?" Seto cried.

She quoted the scroll, "From there you will seek the Embodiment of Fallen Allies, and fight the Entities among them. Never be in fear, dear Goddess, for your light shall always accompany you into this Abyss we call the Cosmos."

"And that means."

"It means that there are Guardians inside Mana Ka'reph, guarding the Inner Sanctum," she said matter-of-factly.

"Are they going to be zombies?" Seto asked, remembering the battle in the desert over a month before.

"Well, Embodiment of Fallen Allies, it doesn't sound promising," she admitted.

"I don't do zombies," he said, "That whole living dead thing, been there, done that."

"You don't do zombies like Regius doesn't do windows," she scoffed. "Don't give me that."

"Oh, and I suppose you'll be charging in there headfirst," he eyed her suspiciously.

"No, you'll be with me, and so will Megami."

"Glad to be of service," he smirked. "But now, where do we need to go?"

"Back to the air terminal. I've got to read this thing, and it's about time we get back if we have any hope of finding the temple," she crossed the site and climbed onto the back of the motorcycle.

"Sounds good," Seto said, hopping on and revving the engine. "I like this bike. Not as much as my bird, but I like this bike."

"You men and your infatuation with machinery," she sighed.

Seto laughed and the two took off, just as stars began to dot the sky, and the sun set far in the west.

+~+~+~+~

"This is crazy," Rena sighed, "But.I.it's just.this is insane. How did they know about it? Everything is here, what to look for, how to find it, every suspicion I ever had is true. The Theban dig is out for the Rapier! And, to make matters worse, The Fallen Allies are more monsters from the Shadow Games."

"Does it say which ones?" Seto asked her.

"No, but it does say a lot about how dangerous they were."

"They said Ryu-Kishin was dangerous."

"And you proved the point perfectly," she glared at him. "But anyway, this whole thing is talking about just what we need to get through to find the Inner Sanctum, but it says nothing about the temple's background itself."

"Well, what do we need to get through?" Seto asked.

"Traps set by the god, Upuaut, or Wepwawet, the Embodiment of Fallen Allies, and one more thing, but the stupid text doesn't say anything about it, except Ma'at will seek the man of noble entrance. So, we're looking at a trial here, or something very similar."

"And that's it?" He asked, smirking, "we can handle that no problem."

"The judgment of Ma'at has me a little worried," Rena murmured.

"Why?" Seto asked warily.

"Well." she looked at him, not knowing what to say.

He knew the words before she spoke them, and his face betrayed the humiliation he felt, "Don't even say it."

Rena looked at him helplessly, reading everything in his eyes; shame, betrayal, indignity, could it even have been hurt? She didn't look long enough to find out. "Seto, I didn't mean."

"Yes, you did," he sighed, getting up and walking from the room.

"No please," she whispered.

He ignored her plea and shut the door to another office softly behind him.

She turned back to the paper, "I didn't mean it, Seto. You have a heart, but you don't show it, and I don't know if you can handle it being ripped out of you. You're too cold to face your own emotions, and trust me, they're there."

She turned back to the printed document and kept reading, but it was just repeating things it had already said. She looked at the clock, it was midnight, and the sun would be rising in about four hours.

She sighed and stood up, deciding to go look for Seto. They'd need the chopper in a few hours, and they'd have to leave soon if they were going to be up there the second the sun rose. Her fingers grazed the door handle, and she pulled back, shuddered. It was cold, like ice.

And suddenly, the door opened into the night, but she was still in the building, and like a black hole, she was sucked into the abyss. It was freezing cold and black as night, and Rena felt herself falling. "Just like Alice through the rabbit hole," she thought, before a piece of the chasm hit her, and she felt herself sinking not only into oblivion, but also into unconsciousness.

Rena was slowly dragged into consciousness, and suddenly a bright light flashed before her eyes, throwing her vision out of kilter. Various colored spots shrouded her sight before she felt herself slowly blinding from the intensity of the light.

Megami stirred in their shared mind, Rena! What's happening?

You are asking the wrong person! she shouted mentally.

And then, a light of a different kind shone. It was natural light, sunlight!

She heard voices, harsh and cruel, and then one distinct declaration was made, "Djeten! By the honor of your position, did you love your hidden mistress, enough to sacrifice your own priesthood?"

The voice that replied was one she knew, but in her semi-conscious state, she could barely recognize it, "Yes, and I still love you." But before what she heard could continue, Megami began to scream.

The noise froze Rena's blood; it was the scream of something remembered, something that was better buried in the sands of time. Megami went ballistic. She felt energy rising all throughout her body, cascading outward in every direction. Rena lost complete control as Megami took over their body, and went raging into the darkness, shrieking. Energy seeped from their body like it was a sieve, and Rena found herself drifting away. . .

Megami felt her light fading, and tried to reign in her assault, but couldn't control it any longer herself. They were losing control of their own body! Her hatred and fear and emotion and love had forced her to lose everything she had, and all she had was Rena.

No! Rena! She cried. But it was too late, they were both going to whatever Hell she had condemned them to. . .

+~+~+~+~

"Rena, wake up! We've got an hour to get airborne!" Seto cried, shaking her from her stupor.

"Rena!" Megami cried, "No, Rena!"

Seto reeled back, "You!" he cried.

She ran up to him, grabbing him by the collar, "I lost her! No, no, RENA!!!!" She sank to her knees, "Rena, my beautiful, lovely light, all that I have, don't make me lose you. You're all I have left now."

+~+~+~+~

It was dark again, and Rena felt herself falling. Actually, she couldn't feel at all. She was understanding and seeing, but her eyes would not open or work, she felt no sensation, but simply just knew she was falling. It was like she had become a ghost.

"Am I dead?" she thought. She had never been this close to death. Sure, she got in trouble; she was in trouble on her first day of school, when she was sent home for beating the little boys in her class up. She had been home schooled until she was thirteen, and her parents had begun to teach her hieroglyphics before she could even read English. At thirteen, she was moved to a public school, where she had excelled to the top of her class, just in time for the start of high school. When high school started, she remained at the top of her class, and actually found some friends that didn't think of her as a freak for understanding four dead languages; Ancient Egyptian, Coptic, Greek, and Latin. In fact, they adored her for it. And then, she had met Pegasus, her parents had died, and she was to be engaged with a man she had no intention of loving. She started to crawl away from society, changing her conservative dress for more flashy styles, stupid things that distracted her attention, like Egypt. Vizierglyphs had been discovered, and with the discovery, came Rena's uncanny interest. She studied them with a passion. She forced her mind to break the codes, read the symbols, and had become a master of them before her high school graduation.

In college, she had gotten away from Pegasus, and in her rush, she had fallen into the arms of the first passerby. Daniel. He had pulled her even farther of her path of sanity; enough so that she couldn't trust her own actions. He had courted her with determination, and when she finally gave into him, he thanked her by partying every night, and greeted her with violent hangovers in the morning. He had hit her; beat up on her, though she gave back everything he laid on her. It was at that time she finally completed her martial arts training she had started at the age of four. But it hadn't been enough. Daniel took drunk one night, and had finally forced himself on her in a way she could never forgive, and would be the last blow to the final crumbling pillar of her sanity. He had tried to rape her, so she made sure he would never walk the same again for what he tried. And that had been it. She consumed herself in her studies, ranking top in her nation, and accompanying the IECI on their dig in Egypt, completely insecure, friendless, and bitter. A female Seto Kaiba.

"I wonder why," she thought. To get back what life she had left? It had seemed to work. She loved the Professor like a second father, and Andre had always been there to give her the laugh she needed. "He was so cute," she thought with a mental smile. And Nazo had been just enough to fill in the gaps. Always the encouraging word, always willing and able for her little sister, Rena-chan. It had been the boost she needed to get out of her pathetic depression, and back on track.

So, of course she doubted her newfound sanity, now that she had battled an army of zombies, two different demons, a crazed sorceress, and a goddess determined to see the goddess inside of her die. And now she had begun to distrust her heart.

Rena heard, no, understood, voices, it was Megami, sobbing. And Seto, he said nothing, but she could feel the anger he aimed at himself. The blame he put on his own shoulders for allowing her to drift away. Megami wailed, "Rena, no. Come back to me. Please." It was strange; she had always imagined Megami as headstrong, self-redeeming, even a little cruel at times. It was peculiar how eccentric her emotions could be, and at how rapidly they could change.

She tried to murmur, but the only sound she could make was an inaudible whisper, "Meg.ami."

Rena? Megami cried inwardly, Are you still there?

I'm trying. Rena whispered.

Hold on, just hold on, I'm trying to find you! Megami called.

"What is it?" Seto cried, "Is Rena safe?"

Megami didn't hear him; she was already searching their soul. Rena was lost in an abyss of turmoil and emotion, churning like the sea. She couldn't see Rena! And then, a flicker of silver hair, Rena! Megami reached out for her soul, for the hand, outstretched to her. She strained to grasp it, and finally caught hold of Rena's smooth, warm flesh.

I found you! She cried, pulling Rena's limp body against hers, And I won't let my little light be doused ever again!

Megami, she whispered, Who are you?

I am the patron of pharaoh, my name is well, kind of unpronounceable.

Try me, Rena dared softly.

All right, Megami sighed, It's. . .

"Rena!" Seto cried, shaking her shoulders gently, "Rena, wake up!"

"Seto?" she murmured, "Seto!"

"Come on, wake up, Ren," he urged, "We've got twenty minutes to find the temple!"

"Ren?" she asked astonished at the new nickname, "Ren?" But nonetheless, she stood and he helped her across into the helicopter. He jumped in on the other side, and ran the world's fastest sim check before the chopper rose in the air above Thebes.

"Ren?" she asked one more time.

"You know what I meant," he sighed. "I was just so rushed I didn't have time to say all of it."

"What? I like Ren."

"Listen," he growled, "We've got three minutes before the sun's up. Keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual."

"Right," she glanced out the window at the sleeping city, as the sun's first rays made a line on the horizon. Still, she couldn't make anything out yet.

Seto stared hard at the city. It had been five minutes that the sun had been up and neither of them had seen anything yet. And then, a flash caught his eye. It was an old, maybe ancient ruin, standing in the middle of a road. On top there lay a statue, and the light reflected off from the top. And somewhere else, another tiny gleam of light, reflecting from the head of another statue. Small pricks of light shone everywhere.

"Seto, do you see what I see?" Rena asked from her window.

"I think so. How come no one's ever noticed this before?" The lights were spreading, creating a kind of symbol.

"It's too faint to really be noticed from a very high elevation," she commented, "And besides, some of the pattern is missing."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, the statues won't stay up forever," she continued, "Eventually, some were going to erode, or be torn down. That's just common sense."

"But still, there have to be hundreds."

"Once, there were probably thousands," she remarked, "But this is certainly enough to tell what it is."

"What?"

"The wadjet eye," she breathed.

"Talk straight, or at least Japanese."

"The eye of Horus."

"Whoa," Seto groaned, "More demons of the. . .whatever god that was you just said."

"Horus, you dork!" she giggled. "And look! There is the pupil of the eye!" She pulled out a map of the city, and marked down just where the pupil had been. "The Rapier is ours! Ha, and you had doubts!"

"I had doubts?" Seto asked incredulously. "You had doubts." He raised his voice an octave and put on a scared look, "Oh, I'm so frightened, I'm such a bad person. I'm so afraid of the spirit inside me! Seto, don't drink! Seto, train me! I'm not a fighter anymore, I'm so scared. Seto, help me!"

"Congratulations, you have just won the gold, silver, and bronze medal in the Asshole Olympics!" Rena cried, putting a pretend microphone in front of his face, "What do you plan to do next?"

"Well, it's training for a few more years, I think, and back to contest in Asshole Olympics, 2004," he smiled, patting her on the head.

"You are the biggest. . ."

"Help you've had since we got here," Seto finished.

Rena couldn't help but laugh, "I guess you're right."

"I'm right?" Seto asked? "Just how many times have I been right?"

"Don't press your luck."

"I'm a businessman, I press my luck every day," he nudged her cheek. "And I haven't lost yet."

Rena smiled at him, pulling his hand away from her face, "I'll see to it that you do."

He frowned at the last remark, and landed the helicopter in the pupil of Horus's eye.

+~+~+~+~

"I see why these things only shine in the morning," Rena shouted to Seto below. "The angle corresponds to the rising sun, and projects them in the form of the eye. At any other time of day, the statues' reflections aren't in the formatic unison they're in at daybreak."

They had found one of the reflecting statues near the area of the pupil, and Rena had climbed up the fifty foot alabaster statue of Isis and investigated what the sun's rays were gleaming off of.

"I found it!" She cried, and began her descent from the statue. "Whoa!" She screamed as she lost one of her handholds. She tumbled backwards off the statue, reaching for one of Isis's hands, but missed it, and fell towards the earth.

"Rena!" Seto cried. He ran up underneath her, and jumped catching her in midair, and landing with a soft thud, the panicked archaeologist in his arms.

"Thank. . .you," she panted. He set her down gently, but she still clung to his shoulders like a vice. He winced at the grip, and she let go of him quickly.

"So, what were the lights reflecting off of?" he asked, subtlety rubbing his shoulder.

"Pieces of limestone spread over the head of the statue," she said, pulling a smooth rock from her pocket.

"I thought it'd be gold."

"You commoners and your myths. Egyptians weren't crawling in gold, well, okay, they were, but limestone lasts much longer, and its gleam is much brighter," she said, putting the piece in her backpack. "Now, let's find the entrance."

"Wouldn't be in the very center?" Seto asked her.

"Yeah," she said, "Why?"

"Are we near the center?"

"Practically on top of it. Why?" she looked at him warily.

"You're going to think I'm crazy, but look over there," he pointed to an object about sixty feet away from where they were standing.

She followed his finger, he was pointing towards a. "A well?" She asked.

The two jogged over to the object Seto had been pointing at. "My God," she breathed.

"No way," Seto said, "It's too obvious."

"Not in Ancient Egypt. Wells were commonplace, a dried up well would have been the perfect disguise," she commented, "but still, let's test it." She picked up a pebble and dropped it into the well. They waited for a minute, but a sound never came up from the black tunnel.

"So, we found the entrance, now, how do we get down there?" Seto asked.

"Egyptians seem to have a thing for this whole underground temple bit, don't they?" she chuckled. She pulled off her backpack and reached into it, pulling out two harnesses, and two grappling ropes. "Luckily, I'm always prepared."

Seto pulled his on, adjusting it as he went. Finally, the two clipped the ropes on, dug in two hooks on the sides of the well, planting a safety line in the ground outside.

"I'll go down first," he said, but Rena stopped him.

"I don't think so. You went down first last time, and you don't know what's down there."

"Neither do you," he countered.

"But I have a better clue than you do," she smiled, hopping onto the edge of the well.

"True," Seto nodded.

"Second time we've agreed on something. Wanna try for three?" She gripped the edges of the well, inching her way down until she was out of sight.

"Tug on the rope when your down there," Seto called after her, "And be careful! My insurance probably won't cover monsters and demons!"

"Nice to know you care!" The answer echoed up the tunnel.

Luckily for Rena, the sides of the well were dry with age, and she could attach safety lines as she went, and they held pretty well. She had no clue how far down she would have to go, and her flashlight was inside her backpack. She attached another safety, and grabbing it with her free hand, pulled out her flashlight with the other. Luckily, it was a lantern light, with a strap for her hand. She looped it around her wrist. She had gone down a good fifty feet, and the tunnel still continued for another seventy feet. But she thought she could make out a stone floor at the end, and she didn't see or hear anything waiting to eat her alive.

Finally, she reached the end, undid her line, and jumped the ten feet to the floor. No zombie armies, no monsters, not even any bugs. She gave the end of her line three hard pulls. That was Seto's signal to get down here. "And he better get down here fast," she thought, "This is creepy." She left her safety catches in, so all he would have to do was attach his own line to them as he made his way down.

She walked over to the walls, holding her lantern light up to them, trying to read the hieroglyphics. "Goody," she muttered. Another warning, this one a giant falcon overbearing several monsters, and several people falling to their deaths in traps and being eaten alive by crocodiles. "Pleasant," she smiled grimly. "Traps set by Upuaut, god of Pharaoh's front line in war."

She heard a scuffle above her, and whirled around, Seto was making his way down; she could see his silhouette against the tunnel. He dropped off his line, and pulled off his harness. Rena did so as well, and both of them dropped their own under the entrance.

"Eerie, isn't?" he said, running his fingers up her sensitive sides.

"Stop it!" she cried, shimmying away from him. "And keep your hands to yourself!"

He laughed, "Come on, let's go." He pulled out a bright light of his own and set off.

"Seto, stop. We don't know what's waiting!" Rena called after him.

"Oh, well." But the second he finished the floor opened up beneath him and he was falling.

"SETO!!!" Rena screamed, tearing for the hole. She skidded to her knees at the edge. She lifted her lamp in the hole. He had fallen about twelve feet into a hole filled with water that rose just above his waist.

"Guess, I should have watched my mouth," he chuckled. He looked down around himself. He was up past his waist in water, but the ground underneath him seemed to shift.

"Seto," Rena groaned, "Look what you're standing on."

He looked down peering in the murky water, and hundreds of human remains stared back. He yelled like a madman, jumping onto the sides of the pit, screaming bloody murder. "OH MY GOD!"

And not only were there human remains, but those of crocodiles as well, probably stored there as a cruel fate for trespassers.

"Seto," Rena whimpered, "There's something down there."

She was right, the water was stirring, and he could just barely make out two eyes gleaming from underneath the water.

"Holy shit!" he screamed, "Holy shit!"

"Grab my hand!" Rena shrieked, holding it down as far as she could go. He pounced off the wall, rebounded off the opposite one, and grasped her hand. She pulled him out, and he rolled across the floor, breathing like he had just sprinted twenty miles. They both stood there, breathing and sprinting, and in Rena's case, crying.

"What. . .was. . .that?" Seto panted.

"I. Don't. Know!" Rena answered. She rolled over to him, "But. . .whatever it. . .was. . .you. . .deserve to be. . .eaten. . .by it!"

"What?" he gasped.

"I . told you .not to .charge . off. like .that," she huffed. She tried to stand herself up. "But . of course . you charged . right . in!"

"Rena . I'm . sorry," he wheezed.

"You should. . .be," she said, giving him a hand up. He accepted it gratefully, and stood up.

"You. . .idiot," she sighed, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

"Be careful, Rena, I might have to think you liked me," Seto cautioned.

"It keeps me up at night," she laughed. "Come on."

"What, no kiss?" he asked, jogging up beside her.

"We are in a temple over one hundred feet underground, you're wet, and stink of decomposed humans, not really the time for romance," she reasoned, laying a tentative step in front of her.

The ground started to crumble under her weight. "Look out!" Seto shouted. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back. A hole fifteen feet wide opened up before them.

"Great," she grumbled, "How do we cross this?"

"Jump," Seto said. He ran back about twenty feet, and leaped over the edge. His hand caught on the other side, and he pulled himself up.

"Just to let you know, I truly hate you!" Rena cried sarcastically. "But again, I come prepared!" She rummaged through her backpack, "Insta-pole!" She pushed a button, and it extended into an eight-foot solid rod. She vaulted over edge, just missing the opposite by a few inches. "Crap!" she squealed.

"I got you," Seto said. "Baka onna." He grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the ridge.

"Don't say a word," she mumbled.

"A word," Seto replied.

+~+~+~+~

"ONI!!" the Dark Goddess bellowed. "ONI! FUKUSHUU!"

The demons appeared before her, each down on one knee, or in Fukushuu's case, crouched low to the floor.

"Tell me, what is of Noriyuki and Jaaku?" she asked.

"We don't know, your Darkness," Oni began.

"What?" she screamed. Energy burst from the Goddess's form in the shape of three daggers, each pinning Oni to the far wall.

"We cannot trace Jaaku's energies," Oni moaned, dark blood seeping from his demon body. "And Noriyuki is nowhere to be found." The demon's eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he began to spit up blood.

"Fukushuu, explain this to me," the Daughter of Seth demanded, "Where has Noriyuki gone?"

"We don't know," Fukushuu growled.

The goddess's eyes narrowed to slits, "In that case."

A look of fear crossed the demon panther's face, "She is probably in the Realm of Shadows. The last thing we heard of her was that she had a 'pleasant surprise' for you."

"Really," she said in amusement. "Is it what I think it is?"

"It will not be the goddess."

"Then what will it be?" she spat.

"We do not know, she would not tell us," Fukushuu reasoned.

"Then contact Noriyuki. I don't care how, just do it," she pointed to the dying Oni, "Or you will end up in the same position."

"Yes, Dark Mistress." Fukushuu gave one final, low bow and left the room.

Oni moaned through the pain, "Please, Mistress. Give me one more chance, I will not fail you."

"It is too late," she replied flip. A single energy blast flew from her fingertips, killing Oni. "Perhaps it is time we keep our deal," she informed the darkness. She pulled several wisps of smoky energy from Oni's dead body.

"We shouldn't waste this before it has time to rot," she smiled. "Ayaroi!"

"Yes, my Mistress?" A dark-eyed, dark-haired woman emerged from the shadows. Kohl lined her black, soulless eyes, as the Daughter of Seth handed her the wispy energy.

"Make sure you use this to give our servant his promised gift," she said.

"I understand, Mistress," Ayaroi replied, "I will see to it myself."

"Good," the Mistress nodded and Ayaroi bowed and left. She looked over to a shadowy cove where two eyes gleamed at her. "You will have as I promised," the Daughter said.

Two malevolent eyes smiled back.

+~+~+~+~

An hour and ten trap holes later, Seto and Rena found themselves in a cavernous room, inscribed with every epic battle of the gods. But by far the most spectacular, was the confrontation between Horus and Set. The war was written on the ceiling, the walls, and even on the floor.

Magnificent, isn't it? A voice echoed throughout the room.

Megami stirred inside Rena, We aren't alone. You'd better give me way.

Sure, Rena agreed. She felt hair wash over her shoulders, as her own soul receded into their mind, and Megami's new form took control.

"Seto," Megami started, "I'm in this fight now, too."

"No," he said, "Rena's worked too hard for this. She deserves to be in this battle."

"We'll see," Megami answered. "But first, let us fight this presence."

We shall see, warriors, the voice resonated with power and authority.

From the shadows stepped a figure, emanating in a silver glow. I am called Rogue Doll.

"Rena's card!" Seto gasped.

The Doll looked exactly like the one from the card, a pale, silver-gray carved face from stone or marble, and body hidden by purple robes and silks. Clutched in her hand was a stone scepter, a strange light glowing from it.

You have approached the Embodiment of Fallen Allies, come and accept your destiny, the Doll challenged.

"All right, I think we will," Seto said. He looked at Megami, "I've got nothing, you?"

She rolled her eyes, "Idiot." She crossed her arms in front of her, "Endowed Energy, Divine Ignition!" A bright yellow energy ball sailed at the Doll, who blocked it with her staff, and countered with one of her own, Ancient Spell!

No way! Rena cried to Megami, as she jumped out of the path of the attack.

"How do we beat this thing?" Seto yelled.

"Use your magic!" Megami cried.

"What magic?" Seto shouted.

Megami ran up to Seto, pushing him out the way of an attack, "This magic." She gripped his head in her hand, and gave him a charge.

Seto stood, feeling the power of his ancient blood, coursing through his veins in a shade of red darker than immortality, "Oh, this magic!" He raised his hand and let several hailstones of energy fly at Rogue Doll.

"Show off!" Megami taunted. She grabbed his hand in hers, and the two cried, "Dark Void!"

A cloud of black energy swarmed around Rogue Doll, enclosing and imprisoning it in a globe of darkness.

No! The Doll cried. You must never find the Rapier! Not as long as Set's Daughter will seek for vengeance!

"That's fine," she said, "Because we're making sure of the same thing."

The doll's eyes opened wide, You cannot be?

"At your service," Megami bowed. "Now come on." She and Seto tugged open the huge door, and there it was.

Gleaming in gold radiance and majesty, a single sword. Gilded in gold, and wrought from the powers of divine quintessence, it lay before them, forty feet within their grasp.

"We found it," Seto breathed. He grabbed Megami's hand; turning to look at her, "Give Rena her body. She of all of us deserves to see this."

Megami sighed and receded back into their form, and Rena's emerged face shone with pride and happiness.

"We've done it, this is the Inner Sanctum of Mana Ka'reph," she smiled at him.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, "This is what it's all about. You did it, Ren."

"Hey," she grinned, "You called me Ren again."

His cheeks reddened, "I'm delirious."

"I like Ren," she beamed.

Just then, a small crash was heard, something tore from the ceiling, screaming in fury. It landed in front of the two, roaring mightily.

Seto nearly collapsed, "No."

"No way," Rena whimpered.

The Guardian of the Inner Sanctum was the strongest of all Pharaoh's guardians. The Blue Eyes White Dragon, the most revered beast.

It roared again and threw its head back, gathering lightning from an invisible storm.

"It's going to use White Lightning Attack," Seto warned.

"Run?" she looked at her companion.

"Run," he agreed. They took off for the door, white-hot lightning at their heels.

They forced the door shut, trying to catch their breath.

Finally, Seto sighed, and took a seat against the door, "We're never going to stop that."

No, you won't.

Rena looked as the Rogue Doll emerged from the shadows, "I thought you were trapped!"

The Doll smiled knowingly, I am a Keeper, guarding this most holy place. I have been endowed this gift by Ra himself, to see the Holy Rapier remains safe.

Rena grinned gently, "Aren't you ever. . .?"

Lonely? Don't worry about whether I feel lonely. I ought to guard the gate of the Inner Sanctum.

Seto looked at Rogue Doll curiously, "The Millennium Rapier."

The Holy Rapier, the Doll corrected, They are Holy Items of the new Millennium. The protectors of chaos.

"In our day and age, they have become known as the Millennium Items," Rena explained. "But to finish his question, how do we get past the Guardian inside the Sanctum?"

It is impossible for any mortal, the Doll stated, Except one.

"Which one?" Seto asked.

The one who is of the First Prophet of the God, Oracle to the King.

"Translation?" he looked at Rena.

"The High Priest of Pharaoh."

"Well, what about the Goddess?" he asked.

I would not know. The Beast is spawn of Ra himself, a protector in his journey through the Underground. The Goddess of Light, powerful she may be, might still be unable to command the creature. Only the First Prophet of the God could command such a creature, for he knew the soul of the great animal, a feat not even the First Star, Son of Ra could achieve.

"But what's all that mystic crap mean?" Seto asked.

"She doesn't know if I can control the Dragon, because he's Ra's pet, and only the High Priest could control him," she elucidated.

"Right." Seto reached in his pocket and pulled out his Duel Monsters deck.

"I can't believe you actually brought that with you," she sighed.

He ignored her remark, and began to search through his deck. One by one, he pulled three cards out in front of him, and laid them face down.

"Of course," Rena breathed.

"Guess what these are," Seto dared Rogue Doll.

I do not know.

"Then come see."

I do not understand you're silly game mortal, but if you try to fool me, I will reveal my power unto you. The Doll glided over to them, and with a flick of her staff, flipped the three cards over.

It is the Beast of Ra! She cried. The three cards flipped over were of course, Seto's choice monsters, Blue Eyes White Dragons. You are he whom the Prophecy speaks! The First Prophet of the God, you can control the creature through your power!

"Wait, I need powers for this?" Seto asked.

Truly, the Oracle still remembers them?

"Truly, I don't even know I have powers," Seto replied.

Rogue Doll could see it for herself, You speak forthrightly, Oracle. Then in that instance, let it be seen! She raised her scepter, and slammed it on the ground in front of Seto. Energy waves were seen everywhere, emanating from every object. The walls were all dark gray, and the Doll glowed golden. What you see is your spirit energy, put forth for you to witness.

Seto held his hand in front of his face, it glowed a brilliant red-orange, and soon the whole of his body emitted the reddish energy. A light lit up beside him, and when he turned to see it, Rena stood there, examining her own hands, her hair swirling up around her in a cyclone of the resilient silver energy. She looked across to him, fear and excitement dancing like violet fire in her eyes.

This is your Essence, your ba. Most living things have the same color of essence, a simple, violet color. Violet is that of humanity, and of course, the higher the spiritual connection to the Divine, the brighter red it turns. As Oracle, you were the alternate of the King, nearly a god in your own right. That's why your ba is the color of fire. And the King, his Essence will burn a pure crimson. But as a Goddess, your companion shows her true ba in the color of the holy.

Seto focused on his hand, and the longer he concentrated, the more essence flowed to it. Finally, as if unable to remain in that same place it concentrated in his palm, and shot forth at Rogue Doll.

Oh my! The Doll raised her scepter to deflect the attack. I see you have discovered how energy is stored and amplified to become like a weapon.

He grinned, looking at Rena, who too was playing with her energy.

"It makes you feel so light," she put a hand to her chest, "Like I have wings." As she said it, a pair of pale blue wings sprouted from her back, molded from the silver embodiment. She gave them an experimental flap, and slowly, lifted herself off the ground. "This is so cool."

"Show off," Seto called. He tried to push his own energy underneath him, but it backfired and he flew into a wall.

"Are you okay?" Rena laughed, gliding over to him.

"You didn't see that," he glared at her.

"Saw what?" she replied innocently.

"Just, let's get going, and stop with this whole spirit energy, divine essence thing or whatever the hell it is. I really don't care. The Blue Eyes is mine, and I'm not going to let my own creature stop me," he strode off for the door.

As you wish, the Doll said. The doors swung open and again, the Blue Eyes swooped down into view, roaring thunderously.

Seto whispered to Rena, "What am I called again?"

"The First Prophet of the God, Oracle to the King," she repeated.

"Right." He approached the dragon, who threw its head back, preparing for an assault. Seto shouted exultantly, "By all that I am, High Prophet of the God. . ." He threw a look at Rena.

"Oracle to the King!" she shouted.

"Oracle to the King," he continued, "I command you!"

The Dragon hesitated, somehow effected by the words, as Seto continued, "As High Prophet, I command you, reign in your ferocity, I am your Master!"

"Master?" Rena asked. "Where the heck did that come from?"

"Shut up," he hissed, then turned back to the Dragon, "Mighty Blue Eyes, I beseech you, return to your hibernation, and let me pass!!"

The Dragon halted his attack, and looked at Seto, then, without any sound, it beat its blue wings and disappeared into the shadows.

"Oh my God!" Rena cried, "Oh my God, I can't believe I just saw that, am still seeing it! Look at you, Seto!"

Seto inspected himself in piece of broken glass, he was glowing in the same Essence he was in earlier, and a mark, not the eye of Horus, the mark of the Priesthood blew away his bangs and shone on his forehead.

"No way," he murmured.

"You did it!" Rena jumped onto him, tackling him to the floor.

"But what about the last one? The judgment you were talking about?" He asked her.

"I haven't seen it, maybe it comes later," she said, frowning. "But let's get the Rapier first."

She took his hand and led him up the steps to where the pedestal holding the divine sword stood. He wrapped her hand in his and placed them just before the sword, "It's ours," he whispered in her ear.

Just then, a single feather floated down gently, just before they could lay their hands on the sword.

"Crap," Rena said flatly. A brilliant explosion lit the room, soundless but strong enough to launch them forward into an entirely separate dimension.

+~+~+~+~

Seto was completely alone, he could no longer see or hear Rena. This had to be the Judgment. The place where he stood was empty and completely white, stretching out into infinity.

A bird flew up to him, as he stood there in that white emptiness. "Rena!" he called. But no answer came.

The hawk landed in a soft flutter of feathers, and human eyes stared at him. It was no longer a hawk but a young girl, a feather protruding from her head. "I am Ma'at," she giggled. Suddenly, she flung her hands to the sides of her linen robe, and they cracked and split, becoming talons.

She walked up to him, kissing him softly on the lips and whispered, "This won't take very long." Then, plunged her talons into his chest, and ripped out his heart.

"You see this?" She asked.

He nodded softly, life floating away from him.

"Well, this is your heart, your utmost desires are here for me to see. Let us see if you are worthy; if you are, you get this back. If no-ot," she giggled, drawing the last word in a singsong voice, "Then I give it to Ammit, the demon crocodile you saw earlier in the Pit of Upuaut." She toyed with the heart that still beat in her hands, then looked at the gaping hole in his chest, "Let's have a look before the life essence I gave you in the kiss expires."

"So that's why I'm alive," he thought.

"Of course it is, and be careful. Thought and speech are the same in this world."

The scene began to shift and change color. . .and slowly becoming more familiar.

It was his mansion, the Kaiba Estate.

"You must be some great king!" Ma'at gasped, "To own such a palace." She snapped her fingers, and Seto felt himself lifted up off the ground, floating behind her, inside his house where Mokuba sat on the floor, playing Duel Monsters with himself. Then, he saw himself join his brother on the floor.

"This is the image your heart has shown me," she explained, "This is the most blatant desire of your heart; the love of your brother, and the simple need to always be with him. Certainly no sinful deed, I shall move on."

Again the stage skewed, forming into the Turtle Game Shop. He saw Yuugi enter, and Ma'at and her slowly dying companion slipped through the door. Jounochi, Anzu, and Honda walked in behind them, and all four sat on the floor. She kneeled beside Yuugi, and pointed to his Millennium Item.

"This boy carries the Holy Puzzle?" she asked, her face betraying astonishment, "he is so young!" She touched his forehead softly; "I see why your heart leads to us to this place. You carry great respect for this boy, and yet, I sense some terseness between you. You two are great rivals."

"And this boy," she laid a hand on Katsuya Jounochi's shoulder, "I sense hostility for this boy. Your heart makes it evident there are not calm waters between you."

"I don't feel it." Seto murmured. His life was rapidly leaving, but still Ma'at clutched his beating heart.

"Of course you don't," she sighed. "You're heart and mind are two separate things, it's hard for them to work together, so your mind denies your heart. But mind, it would be wise to heed what your heart tells you."

She snapped her fingers and the environment returned to same white emptiness they had been in earlier, and before him stood three figures, and he knew every single one.

"My family," he whispered.

"Your inconsolable yearning to love the ones you had once loved. Taken away from you so young, the need to embrace your family." His mother, father, and Mokuba stood before him, each waving and shouting his name.

"Seto, come home dear. It's your favorite dinner tonight," his mother crooned. She had always insisted on cooking, despite her frail health. But she had been determined and sure of herself and her family, traits she passed down to her son. She had light, wispy, jet-black hair, but her eyes were blue and resolute. She had died giving birth to his brother, and she would never see what a wonderful little boy he was.

"Mother," he spoke so softly, pain welling where his heart should have been.

"Come now, son, we'd better be getting inside. You know the fits your mother might have if we're late for her dinner!" his father chuckled. He had had a good nature, and a friendly character. But there was his sense of pride, in himself, his wife, and his children, that any stranger would find undeniable. Seto had picked that one up, too. He stood tall, the near image of his own son, brown hair that seemed to have a mind of its own, the curved, handsome jaw, and well-exercised physique. Except his eyes were a dark brown, almost black with an intensity that could bore right into you, especially if you were in trouble. He had died in an accident, not a year following the death of his mother, and Seto could still feel the last hug that this man had given him the night he died. The embrace of a man who could do nothing with his life except embrace what he had with happiness, and wait for the coming of his own death.

"Come on brother, come on Seto! We're all home now," Mokuba smiled.

And all at once, it came to him, his eyes welling with the tears he had not cried for ten years. They slipped innocently down his cheeks, onto the white floor. He wanted to hold them all, to give his father a powerful hug, to kiss his own mother's cheek. To scoop Mokuba up in his arms and give him everything he had promised him and more. Just to be a family again, it was all he wanted. And yet he could not move, could not come to them, embrace them, show them the man he had become.

"Mother, father," was all he could say.

Ma'at watched him, sorrow in her eyes, "You missed them so much, so much you denied your own emotion once again, and built this barricade. Iron walls fell from the sky, enclosing them from the outside as hailstones of ice rained down, freezing the iron bars in ice-cold hatred.

"This is the anger you feel to the world," Ma'at spread her arms wide, "This is the anger, hurt, sorrow and depression that is the natural setting for evil to grow. It feasts on your mourning, grows fat on your rage. It is how it survives. It is obvious you were once the house for evil, but obvious is it as well that you were cured of that evil. Mokuba appeared in front of him again, smiling innocently, and above him loomed Yami, smirk on his face.

The heart in Ma'at's hand skipped a beat as Yami appeared. "This is your greatest rival, your heart is sure." She continued, "This is your cage, iron bars frozen in icy fury. But, as you know, iron becomes vulnerable to attack." She pointed to a small crevice in the wall that gradually became larger, until a shaft of light shone through the dark cage.

The heart in Ma'at's hand beat frantically as the bars melted away, and there she stood.

"It can't be," Seto thought.

"But it is," Ma'at exclaimed, "This is the greatest denial of feeling I have seen! Learn this well, mortal, it is not good to be so reluctant of affection to another!"

His body lit on fire, burning in pain as heat crept up on him. His heart began to quiver, and as it beat, several notes emerged from the pumping muscle. Ma'at said above the noise, "You're heart sings for this person."

"I don't sing," Seto said flatly.

"No, but you're heart does, every time you see this person, touch this person. Your heart sings for joy."

Rena came in through the fracture in his shield.

The background sped back to his house, where the two of them stood in his room, Rena clutched tightly to his chest. He sat there, smoothing her hair, until he brought her close to his lips. . .

"Please goddess, Ma'at I understand this."

"But do you except it?" she stared at him pitilessly.

He watched as he and Rena stood against each other, full and content in the other's presence, as he whispered the words with his remaining strength, before he could expire.

"I love her. . .?"

"That was all I needed," Ma'at smiled contently, holding his heart to his chest, "My judgment is through, you are pure!" His heart entered back into his body, and instantly began to heal. The hole in his chest disappeared, as did the blood staining his clothes, except his shirt remained tore and ragged.

+~+~+~+~

Rena walked around the empty void, unsure of her surroundings. "Seto! Seto, can you hear me?" she cried.

Megami opened her soul room to Rena, The Judgment. Oh no, Rena, whatever you do, don't let her Judge you!

Why not? she asked.

Ma'at is a powerful goddess, the daughter of Ra. Her Judgment is painful, and could cost you your life. She rips your heart out and picks it to pieces. Please, let me take over. I can avoid this.

It's a test of the Rapier. I must go through with it, Rena said, steadfast.

Rena, no! Please, no! Megami begged.

I have to, she said. Seto went through it as well, I know it.

And he might not live to tell the tale! Megami cried. I have to protect you!

No, Rena said flatly.

Rena, please. I lost you once, and that was enough for me! Megami sobbed. Don't do this to me. You swore you'd never run off. Please, she begged.

Megami, I will not have you fight my battles. This is my test, and I know I am strong enough to overcome it. Please, let me! Rena said.

Oh, Rena. . . Megami moaned.

I have you here with me. We'll be together. But. . . Rena didn't get to finish her statement as a bird flew above her landing gracefully.

When it stood, it was in the shape of a young girl, "I am Ma'at, the law of the gods."

"I know, Goddess Ma'at," Rena whispered, "And I am ready for your Judgment."

Ma'at raised her eyebrows, "Most do not know the respect to show me, but I see you are no mortal. Goddess of Redeeming Light, I beseech you, and pardon this intrusion!" Ma'at held a hand on Rena's forehead, and slowly drew a line to her heart, and reaching in, took the heart from her chest.

"Let the tribunal begin," Ma'at said. "The life Essence you have now is more than enough to support you, so follow me."

The white landscape sped to another, to New York City. It was fall and beautiful, and Rena saw herself walking down a narrow street in Central Park. A man shouted, waved to her, and she waved back, running up to meet him. He had unruly, sandy blonde hair, and adventurous, hazel brown eyes. He planted a kiss on her lips, and she returned it gratefully. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and led her to a nice car.

"Daniel," Rena spat.

"Your heart betrayed you," Ma'at said, "It led you to believe you felt love, but why?"

The goddess snapped her fingers, and it went to a poorly lit, musty room, filled with people dressed in black. People were whispering prayers, some staring hard at the floor, others openly weeping. She noticed Motou Sugoroku laying a bouquet of flowers on top of a closed coffin, and laying a crown of daisies on the other. He walked back into the crowd and this time the Professor stepped out, a high school age girl at his side. Her soil-brown hair had red highlights and brushed just above her shoulders, but her eyes were exactly the same. It was a younger version of herself attending her parents' funerals with the Professor.

Another man stepped out of the crowd as well, and stepped up behind Rena, grasping her firmly by the shoulders, and drew her close to him. His hair was long, and shockingly silver, his eyes half-hidden the long strands. He steered her away and out to a limousine, where they drove off into the night.

"Oh, how I loathed your touch," she told the departing vehicle.

"This man was the principle base of your fear and doubt, the cause to problems that would arise later. The man of previous," Ma'at said.

"Daniel," Rena explained, "We dated for a time, then grew away as my love grew colder."

"Yes, but your heart makes it clear that you shattered your cold and bitter fortress," Ma'at smiled. "With help."

Andre, Nazo, the Professor, Seto, and Mokuba stood before her.

"Rena, you're a genius, no wonder we love you," Andre laughed, "You kick this Judgment thing, cause I've been dying to see you again!"

Nazo elbowed him in the ribs and smiled gently at Rena, "I think what this muscle head means is that we all miss you terribly. I hope you've been wearing my hairpiece."

"Every day," Rena whispered.

"Rena," the Professor grinned, "You have made us all so very, very proud."

And Seto stepped up to her, "I know I'm proud of you."

Rena's heart jumped, and Ma'at looked at her, "You love this man?"

Rena looked into his eyes, and saw nothing but her forever, "I do, I love them all."

Mokuba beamed at her, "I knew it."

Ma'at looked at Rena, amazement plastered onto her face, "Your acceptance with your heart, it's amazing. Through all the sadness, the cruelty you've been shown, you can endure?"

"Of course," Rena smiled, weakening from the loss of her heart, "I will always have my precious friends and loved ones, no matter what. And I will always have the Goddess."

"I understand," Ma'at said, "Then my judgment is passed, you are of right to wield the Holy Rapier!" Rena's heart leapt back into her chest, and the wound healed over, and she was thrown back, out of the separate world, away from the goddess of Truth, Justice, and Order, back to her destiny. And this time, nothing was going to stop her from achieving it.

+~+~+~+~

He sat up, his head roaring in pain, a soft nudge rendering him back into consciousness. The face of Rogue Doll loomed above him, smiling knowingly.

All is well. Ma'at's Judgment proved in your favor, as did it for your companion.

"Rena!" he cried the full impact of the message hitting him full in the face. Rena laid sprawled facedown on the other side of the pedestal, the Rapier clutched tightly in her fist. "Rena!" he shouted again, staggering up and falling to his knees beside her. "Come on, wake up." He shook her shoulder gently.

She stirred, moaning, and lifted herself up, "Wha?" she asked. Rena blinked stupidly, repeating, "Wha? What happened? Is it over?"

"Yeah, it is. It's ours," Seto smirked.

Rena looked down at the Rapier, still a permanent fixture to her fist, "Whoa." She smiled at Seto, and said, "I'm tired." Her eyes swam in her head, and she started to reel into his arms.

"Rena, you can't sleep now, we've still got to get above ground," Seto laughed. "And you're no petite princess."

Her head snapped up, and she said defiantly, "You're no daisy either! And besides, I'm a delicate goddess!"

"Delicate? Delicate, my ass!" he laughed.

"It can be!" she said, sticking out her tongue.

"Fine," he shrugged his shoulders, "You asked for it." He grabbed her around the waist, and hefted her up, throwing her over his shoulder.

"Put me down, put me down!" she screamed, pounding her fist on his back. She raised the Rapier over her head; "I'll stick you with this thing!"

"Put the butter knife away, Rena. That thing is blunt, it has to be," Seto sighed.

"Oh yeah?" Rena smiled coyly, "Say that again." She flicked her wrist so that the sharp edge of the Rapier gleamed right in front of Seto's nose. It was razor thin, and just enough to make him break out into a sweat.

"Okay, so I lied," he chuckled. They approached the Doll, who bowed low before them.

Good luck in your quest, and may you find what you seek.

"Thanks," Seto said shortly.

Rena peeked out from over his shoulder, "Thank you as well, Rogue Doll, I hope our paths may again cross!"

I hope to only see you once the Dark Mistress is destroyed, Rogue Doll smiled mysteriously, and returned back to the shadows.

"Let's go," Seto said. "This place is really, truly disturbing." He stopped at the very edge of the first trap hole, and leaped over it effortlessly, Rena still in his arm.

"SETO! I HATE YOU!" she screamed. She set her down heavily after they had crossed, she panted, "I hate you. . .more than you know!"

"That's what makes it so glorious!" he said, and hurdled another fissure.

She jumped it after him, and ran ahead, "Ahh! Just keep away from me!" They crossed seven more together, Rena still in a slight lead when they came before the first one.

"I know what's down there," Seto said, "Ma'at told me. It's Ammit."

"It couldn't be!" Rena exclaimed. "Ammit is a creature of the Underworld!"

"That's just what she said, "I don't know if she was serious. But every suspicion tells me that she was being perfectly sincere."

"I still."

"Rena, come on. I'll go first," he came up to the edge. He could just make out the eyes that watched so diligently.

"I think. . .I'm going to fly," she said. "Take my hand, I don't trust what's down there. If you're right, and it is Ammit, then we have everything to fear for. Ammit's a creature of eternal hunger; his craving for the heart is unappeasable. Just take my hand." The wings fluttered softly out of her back, and she extended a hand to Seto.

"I think I can make it on my own," Seto said. He charged back a few feet, and that's when she saw it. Whatever was down there had moved, and it was fast. Not just fast, but lightning fast!

"Seto, DON'T!" she shouted, but of course, it was too late.

Whatever it was snapped up, catching Seto's leg in its jaw, and dragged him beneath the water, which had opened up into an underground cavern.

"No!" Rena cried, plunging in after them. The water was cold, but the battle was simple. One opponent, as opposed to the several at a time bouts she was used to fighting, and she had the Rapier.

The creature turned and smiled its crocodile grin, still grasping Seto's leg firmly.

"I won't let you take him from me!" she thought as she charged the monster, or at least tried to. Being underwater was serving as a disadvantage; she'd lose this fight if she couldn't do something about it, and fast. She focused her energy, and thought, "Flee from the light while you can! I attack with the Light of Ra!" Essence in the form of concentrated light filtered through the water, illuminating the ghastly landscape.

Ammit's eyes rolled in his head, and he swam blindly. "Ha!" she cried, but choked on the water.

Megami cried in their head, Use the Rapier you idiot!

She corrected herself, and swam for the monster, driving the sword up through its jaw. It released Seto's leg immediately, and she grabbed him, pulling him with her to the surface, her lungs burning for need of oxygen. Her head broke the water, and her wings immediately formed on her back, flapping frantically to the other end, banging against the sides of the pit. A joint cracked and she winced in pain. She half-ran, half-limped, supporting the violently coughing Seto and a broken wing, back to the entrance, where the tunnel entrance loomed above them. She set Seto on the floor, and crashed into a wall, caught in her momentum. Her wings broke into fragments of light, and she cried in pain. She sputtered and choked on water, cursing Egypt and this whole stupid quest.

Seto coughed up some more water, and lay on the floor, smelling of blood and old water. Then, he rolled over and looked at Rena, looked at his leg, at the Rapier, and back to Rena, and started to laugh.

"This is crazy. We're crazy. I mean, a month or so ago this would have really freaked us out. I mean, this kind of pain and anger would be totally new. And now, saving each other's butts is commonplace. Hell, I'd say this was a pretty slow day," he grabbed his side.

"You are crazy!" she said, but found herself laughing with him. "I just want to get out of here. I want to be nothing but a stupid, lack wit otaku girl for the duration of this trip!" She pulled off his coat, and started to tear it into strips when she remembered she still had Nazo's gift.

She reached into her shirt, and pulled out the Amulet of Imhotep, and strung it around Seto's neck.

"What's this new trinket?" he asked.

"Just watch," she smiled, bending down to put on her harness. She grabbed the line and tested it, just as the amulet began to excrete its metallic liquid, traveling down to his leg, encasing it, then just as quickly, receded back into the necklace. It glowed a soft crimson before returning to its normal, gray color.

"That is one handy piece of stone," he commented, "Is it some Ancient Egyptian relic passed down through the centuries, recovered in some revered dig that was awarded to you for commission?"

"Umm, no. It's a relic, yeah, but one of my friends gave it to me," she smiled, handing him his harness.

She kissed his cheek lightly, "I want to get out of here. But first, I need. . ." She started to wobble, but Seto held her upright.

"Come on, we have to get above ground, then sleep all you want," Seto said, standing her upright. He began to put on his own harness, and secured his line next to Rena's, "We'd better go up at the same time. You go first."

"All right," she yawned, and scrambled up her line.

"You'd better stay awake!" Seto shouted.

"You'll know if I fall asleep," she smirked.

Ten minutes later, Rena was giving Seto a hand out of the well, "Well, we're finally out. We're finally done."

"Only for today," he reminded her.

"Please, make me feel better!" she giggled, eyes reeling to the back of her head as she crashed into his arms. He rested her against the well, and brought out his cell phone, dialing the number of the hotel, "Hello? I'm going to need a ride. Yes, we're in the middle of Thebes, that's really all I can tell you. . .yes, the middle of the city, exactly in the center. I don't care how you do it, just get out here!" as an afterthought, he roared, "NOW!"

Well, they were at least true to their word; a limousine picked them up maybe fifteen minutes after his call. He picked Rena up and gently placed her in the car, climbing in on the other side of the seat. The chauffeur's nose twitched as he passed, the scent of the Inner Sanctum still reeking from his clothes.

He walked into the hotel quickly, and as quietly as he could. The hotel manager watched them pass quietly, and he picked up the phone, dialing a quick number.

+~+~+~+~

Rena stirred herself back into reality, gazing listlessly at the clock. "Only seven twenty-eight? It feels like longer." She roused herself completely, stepping out of her filthy excavator's outfit, and gazing at it limply, threw it into the garbage. She turned on the water as hot as it would go, and shivering, stepped into the blast of hot water and steam. She continued to shiver, but the heat of the water did nothing to warm the chill in her bones. She stepped out of the shower, and into another t- shirt and boxers, and wrapped her soft, blue robe around her, one that she had had since her move to New York.

She found herself in Seto's room two minutes later, but he was nowhere to be seen.

She sat on his bed, and gazed out his gigantic window. He stood out on the balcony, his back facing her.

It was so cliché, but at the same time, completely perfect. The setting sun silhouetted his body flawlessly, portraying him against the landscape of the city.

"Seto," she whispered, "Are you okay?"

She felt a weight on the back of her waist as he drew her close to him. "Rena, I'm going to be fine."

"That's good," she slipped her arm around his shoulders.

"Yeah, it kind of is," he smirked pulling her against his chest.

"Seto, are you sure?"

"I'm a businessman, Rena. . ."

"And I'm an archaeologist, don't you see the difference? That's what we'll always be, an important CEO and an archaeologist," she looked into his eyes that bored straight into her.

"No, Rena. You're wrong," just before he laid his lips on his hers, he whispered, "We'll always be a mortal. . .and a goddess."

She arched her head into his kiss, giving it all her soul, all her love, and all her hope. And with a glimmer of it in sight, she ran straight into his arms.

Seto was actually the first one to pull away from the kiss, he lowered his head on top of hers, smiling. He laid a kiss on the top of her head, and then drew her close against him. Her arms clutched together around his neck, and his own arms tightened around her waist.

"Your heart beats so steadily," she whispered.

He gave her one final squeeze then turned inside. She followed silently, stopping to wrap her arms around his waist.

She looked at them standing together in the mirror, "We look good together." She nipped his ear playfully and glided into her own room. Seto did notice with some satisfaction that she kept their adjoining door open. He fell into his bed, hardly noticing when Rena slipped in the doorway. She pushed the covers away next to him, and climbed in, sidling up close to his body.

"Isn't this a little fast for one night?" he yawned.

"Seto, shut up and go to sleep," Rena sighed. He tucked his arm around her waist, and it wasn't two minutes before both of them were snoring on the bed.

She awoke to a sunny day with a calm river breeze, the silk curtains billowing gently in the wind. She looked over at Seto, whose head was buried against her neck, breathing into her hair. His right arm extended over her head, and his left was flung innocently across her breast. His legs were lying on top of hers; he certainly wasn't a very still sleeper.

She moved his hand down to her stomach, and cradled his head in the nook of her arm and let sleep take her the rest of the way.

Rena woke up again, several hours later to Seto, who was busying his hands by playing with her hair.

"That is mine," she said groggily.

"Yeah, but it's something to do," he smirked.

"Well, it's time to give it back," she said, grabbing the strands out of his hands, "Because I want to go home. Well, you're home." Seto gave her a hand, helping her out of the bed. She walked into the bathroom in her own room, smiling at her reflection. She looked and felt happy, and it was just fine with her. She pulled on a nicer outfit, though the reason why she had even packed it escaped her. It was the dark hunter green skirt Mai had given her, paired with a simple tanktop, and had wrapped the white silk wrap around her shoulders as a shawl. It wasn't just the way Mai had done it, but then again she didn't have that designer's touch. It suited her though, and her hair she pinned up chicly with Nazo's hairpiece. The rest of her wanton wardrobe she threw into her bag, and hefted it onto her shoulder. She shut the adjoining door, and grabbed her key. Then, she looked at the Rapier that still lay on her bed.

"Okay. . .now we have a problem," she sighed. "SETO!"

"What?" he asked, running into the room.

"We. . .whoa," she gaped, staring at his outfit. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

He was wearing a low-slung pair of blue jeans, a pair of boxers peeking out at the top, and he was wearing just a simple black muscle tanktop, the Duel Monsters card locket hanging around his neck. She smiled, "You're dressed normally. What's the occasion?"

"Have you seen the papers?" he asked, tossing the one he ordered that morning to her.

The headline on the front page clearly read, "BILLIONAIRE CORPORATE OF KAIBA CORP. KEEPING SECRET MISTRESS?" It continued to state that, "Billionaire corporate, most powerful man in the world, but is it enough to keep him happy? Seto Kaiba was seen in Thebes, Egypt, carrying into his hotel an unconscious woman. Rumor has it this new 'girlfriend' is Rena Campbelle, who is taking the archaeological world by storm."

"God, that was fast," she whistled.

"Fast? You obviously don't know the press. I'm surprised it wasn't on the evening news," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Then come on," she teased, "we'll get out of here before the Paparazzi can find us."

"They'll be waiting in Japan," he stated.

"Yes, but if they come to your house, you can arrest them," she winked.

"Come on," he sighed, "the skies are waiting."

"One second," Rena nodded to the Rapier, "How do we get that out of here without attention, it's almost four feet long."

"Kuso," he cursed, "It won't fit in our bags?"

"What do you think?" she smirked.

"I think, I think we just need. . ." he rubbed his head. "Wait, I got it."

"Well, I'm waiting," Rena said impatiently.

"Hold on," he shouted as he walked away. "I got an idea!"

"You got? Well, go get it," she chuckled, flopping onto the bed. "Idiot."

"Ta-da!" he came back holding a trash bag, and a long canvas sack.

"This is your fantastic plan?" she asked incredulously, "And this is the boy wonder that's taking the world by storm with his incontestable genius?"

"You bet," he smiled, throwing the Rapier into the trash bag, and then tying the sack up around it.

"I could have thought of that!" she cried.

"Yeah, but you didn't," he kissed her on the lips, "Now let's go home!"

~Tsuyosa no Junai!~

________________________________ I am good, I am very good. . .

By the way, if any of you have problems with how fast I've been posting, or what I'm posting, don't be afraid to give me a name, it's not like I can have you arrested, and I'm pretty good with criticism.

But yeah, this chapter's for Demeter.