Thank you, reviewees! It's great to know that my story didn't get lost among the hundred others.

MotherChowGoddess: I'm saving Mai for a cameo role – it'll make sense as soon as you find out who I've cast as Macduff. Regarding Lady Macbeth, part of my theory is that she was from a clan that had long been involved with a blood feud with Gozaburo's. … I mean Duncan's.

macbeth: yes.

Delta VT: I'm fonder of R&J. Or at least I thought so. You know what? Never mind. I've gotten all wishy-washy and I need to write an essay after this. You keep on liking Macbeth.

How am I regarding OOC-ness?

*****

Gozaburo paced uneasily in his castle at Forres. Finally, he inquired on Cawdor, although that was not first on his mind. "The thane – aren't the executioners back from killing him yet?"

"No, Father, they're not," Bakura said. "But I spoke with someone who saw him die, and they said he confessed fully and asked for your pardon. It seemed like he died nobly."

Gozaburo waved a hand dismissively and continued pacing. "It's a pity there's no skill that could have tested his sincerity. Even I trusted him."

The grand double doors opened, admitting Seto, Yami Yuugi, Daemon, and Inogashira. The king welcomed Seto with a handshake and a hearty slap on the back. "Seto! I'm still frustrated that there's no way I can fully reward you after all you've done!" He pulled him away and held him by the shoulders. "Cousin, if you'd done less, I could give you what you deserve, but as it is, your deeds are worth more than I can pay."

"Service and loyalty are their own rewards." Seto said. "It's your duty to receive our obligations, and our bond is to you and yours."

"Is that so?" Gozaburo smiled. "I'll keep that in mind." He turned to greet Yami Yuugi. "And noble Yuugi, you deserve no less, so let me keep you in my heart."

Yami Yuugi bowed. "There, if I grow, the harvest is your own."

Gozaburo faced all present. "I'm afraid I must turn to more serious matters now – I speak of our estate." He beckoned Bakura to him, and clapped a hand on his shoulder when he came. "I name as my heir, Bakura, the new Prince of Cumberland." Noah and Seto gave small gasps no one heard. How could he? Each thought. "And, of course, everyone who deserves it will receive honors as well." He shook Bakura roughly in a congratulatory way. "But let's go to Seto's Inverness to spread the word."

Seto nodded. "Allow me to play messenger and tell my wife you are coming. I go." He left, too engrossed in his thoughts to hear Gozaburo further boast of his acquisition of Cawdor.

The Prince of Cumberland! He thought to himself. If my prophecy is to come true, I'll have to defeat this obstacle. He entered the stables and mounted his horse. It reared before he was able to ride. Stars, hide your fires! Seto mentally called out. Let not light see my black and deep desires! The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see!

Inside, Gozaburo took a sip of wine from his goblet. "Very true," he said in response to Yami Yuugi's comment. "He is as brave as you said he was. His praises are a feast for me." He adjusted his cap and walked out of the room. Yami Yuugi followed. "Let's hurry after Seto," he called to Yami from the hallway, "my kinsman without equal."

*****

At Inverness, Lady Sakura Kaiba sat at a table with a candle while she read her husband's letter. His voice echoed in her head:

"The Weird sisters met me when the battle ended, and they knew more than they should. But they disappeared before I could ask them anymore. They greeted me as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king. I wanted to let you know of these promises to us. Lay it to your heart, and farewell."

Sakura stood. "Yes, Seto, you are thane of Glamis and now of Cawdor, and you will be king." She fell onto the bed nearby. "But I'm afraid you're not ruthless enough to seize the opportunity when it comes. You could be great but not if you have to be cruel. If you want something, you have to get it through proper means." Sakura groaned in frustration as she sat up. "This time if you want it, Seto, you'll have to play dirty." She seized a pillow and whispered into a corner as she worried it. "Hurry, Kaiba, and I will speak strength into you, and I will rebuke everything in your way until you wear that crown in your head."

There was a knock on the door. Sakura put the pillow away and groomed herself. She responded to a second knock: "Come in! What do you want?"

The messenger boy at the door bowed his head. "Gozaburo is coming."

Sakura approached him, intimidating him with her stern and regal carriage. "Don't be stupid. If anyone, Seto would've told me that."

The messenger boy bowed even lower this time. "Milady, Master Kaiba is coming. But one of ours outraced him here – the lord hardly had enough breath to speak."

Sakura cocked her head. "Is that so? Leave me, then, and tend to him."

The errand boy left. The door shut closely after his heels, spooking him into moving quickly.

Inside, Sakura paced. "A hoarse raven announces Gozaburo's fatal entrance." She stopped and clenched a shaking fist. "Kindness, flee," she whispered. "I call on spirits to fill me with cruelty. I will feel no remorse. I will not let my weakness get in the way of my purpose. Give me a dark tonight – no one must see what happens."

The door opened and Sakura stiffened. Upon seeing her husband, she relaxed and greeted him with a hug. "Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, greater than both by your future kingship." She kissed him on the lips. "I got your letter," she said.

Seto caressed her face. "Sakura, Gozaburo comes tonight."

"And when will he leave?" she asked.

"Tomorrow."

Sakura pulled away. "No, he won't," she said with a slight smile. "Seto, your face is an open book – close it! Greet our king with welcomes, and let me take care of the rest. You and I will rule Scotland, I swear it."

Seto put a finger on her lips. "We'll talk later," he said before leaving.

"Watch your face," she reminded him. "Leave everything else to me."

*****

None of Gozaburo's had been at Inverness before. And the thanes did not visit often. Bakura and Noah admired the place in general – Seto kept Inverness in flawless condition. The extremely decorated furniture was perfect; the silverware already set at on the table shined with reflections. Tristan, Joey, Daemon, and Inogashira spoke quietly in the middle of the room, commenting on Seto's prosperity.

Gozaburo studied a mantle and the magnificent decorations above it. "I'm impressed," he said as he continued to inspect the room.

Yami Yuugi joined him in front of the fireplace. He looked up, at the rafters. "The house marten builds its nest here, and I've observed the bird only does so in an exalted place."

Sakura entered the dining hall dressed in a reflective red that captured the eye. It hung close to her body as she approached the men. "Ah, Lady Kaiba!" Gozaburo exclaimed. "Thank you for being prepared on such short notice – but know that the trouble I'm causing you it the result of my love."

She bowed. "It's a privilege to have you here. And always we are willing to serve you, in return for honoring us."

Gozaburo and Yami Yuugi rejoined the others in the middle of the room. "Where is Seto?" the king asked. "I had intended to be his purveyor, not the other way around, when I followed him, but your husband rides well, and he arrived before us. As it is, we are your guests tonight."

"Again, our pleasure," Sakura said.

"Give me your hand," Gozaburo said, offering his to take hers. "Lead me to my host. I want to continue graces toward him." He kissed her hand. "By your leave, fair lady."

Sakura nodded. "Excuse us, gentlemen!" she called to Bakura and Noah, and the thanes. "Cool yourselves – you look weary. We will return soon!"

*****

Seto paced in his bedroom. He had left with Sakura only to return. Thoughts plagued his mind. "If it is over with the one stroke, then it should be done quickly. If it were that simple, that easy, I would gladly risk my soul to be king," he whispered rapidly to himself. "Let's say I did. By becoming king this way, I'd just be setting myself up for others to do the same to me. And Gozaburo is here in double trust: We're related, and he's my king – I should be protecting him, not plotting his assassination." Seto spoke more slowly, more calmly now. His pace slowed. "Besides, he hasn't been a bad king, and his deeds will speak to the angels. There really is no reason I should do this, just my ambition – "

His wife's entry interrupted his monologue. "What is it?" he asked.

"He's almost finished eating. Where have you been?" Sakura hissed angrily.

"Has Gozaburo asked for me again?" Seto asked.

"Of course!"

Seto sighed. "Call it off. He's just given me Cawdor. Assassination makes poor recompense."

Sakura grabbed his lapels with a hand. "Why are you changing your mind now? Did you talk yourself out of something again?" she asked mockingly. "Are you afraid to carry out your intentions? Will you live like the cat in the proverb, who wants to eat fish but will not get its paws wet?"

Seto pulled her hand off and studied it. Her fingers were well-trimmed and soft. "Sakura, hush. I will only do what is right. Anyone who does more is not a man."

Sakura pulled her hand out of his and walked past him, looking out the window on the other side of their bed. "Who was it, then, that wrote to me about a prophecy that he would become king? I don't care what you say; he was man. There was neither time nor place to carry it out, but he would have made them. Now, here is a time, here is a place, and you are scared! If I had decided to do so, I would take a baby sucking at my breast and dash his brains!"

"If we should fail – "

Sakura turned around and forced Seto to look her in the eye. "We fail? Kaiba, gather your courage – we will not fail." She drew close to him and tapped his lips and raced an imaginary line down his chin. "When Gozaburo is fast asleep, I'll come to make his guards drunk." Her finger was tracing down his chest now. Her voice became a whisper. "While they sleep, what can't we do?" She clenched the knife on his belt. "The guards will have our guilt."

Seto tipped Sakura onto the bed behind her and swooped to kiss her neck. "Sakura, your spirit will give us nothing but boys," he said as he fumbled for the buttons on the back of her dress. "Your plan can't fail."

She held his wrists, stopping him before he could finish. "Of course not. All we have to do is act." Sakura sat up, forcing Seto to rise with her. She placed his hands in her lap. "The will wants, but time is lacking."

Seto kissed her again and stood. "All right. I go to perform this terrible feat. Put on a good show." He held the door before leaving. "False face must hide what false heart doth know."

Sakura refastened the buttons of her dress and checked her face. Then she went to entertain her guests. A servant passing by the dining hall on the way to the stable heard cheery laughing.

*****

P.S.-type dealie

Just to make things clear:

King Duncan – Gozaburo Kaiba
Malcolm – Bakura Ryou
Donalbain – Noah Kaiba

Macbeth – Seto Kaiba
Lady Macbeth – Sakura Yaminayama

Weird sisters: Ishizu Ishtar, Serenity Wheeler, and Téa Gardner

Ross – Daemon Vurtu
Angus – Inogashira
Lennox – Tristan Taylor

Macduff – Joey Wheeler

Banquo – Yami Yuugi

Of course, this is the only time I'll do this. I trust you to figure everyone else out yourself. Except for maybe Menteith and Caithness. But they don't really matter until the end, and even then, they're really so minor you can't tell them apart. At least I think so. If this offends anyone because they happen to be a huge Menteith/Caithness fan, I apologize. And then let me know, because I want to meet one.

And oh yeah… thank you guys for the reviews!