Shibby-One - Kei is realy a sweetie! You'll grow to love her more and more! And neither of us know if Seto knew Atem was his cousin for sure. They never said.

Ente - NO!! Kei is a completely unique character, and is NOT the BEWD. And only FW takes bribes b/c she's Italian.

FW: =^o^= I take sugar bribes!

Bardock/Bakura/Yami/Yugi/Una: For God/Ra's sake no!!

K Yami Yugi 29 - We like make you laugh!! ^_~

Serafina - Um, the punishments back then were a little harsh, yes. Believe me it'll get worse.

Greenwood - hi!

digigirl - No need to beg! Here's the chapter!

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FW: Wow, did I sleep at all last night?

Bardock: No, but you sleep until eleven thirty in the afternoon.

Una: That's Nee-chan for ya.

Yami: Hmmm, sounds like my type of person

Bardock: I am beginning to think Pharaoh boy here is a vampire.

Una/FW/Yami: o___O; Heke?

Bardock: He rarely comes out during the day unless he has to, he is nearly immortal, he is pure white and sleeps in a coffin!

Yami: FOR YOUR INFORMATION MONKEY BOY IT'S A SARCOPHAGUS! I'M DEAD, BAKA! AND I'M REALLY TAN!!

Yugi: Hurry before they start fighting!

Una: We do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, but we own our prospective characters.

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Chapter 3: Discovery

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The pharaoh was getting older, and the troubles of the kingdom weighed more and more heavily on his shoulders. He hoped his sons would be able to carry such a large burden when their time came. The boys were growing so fast. He remembered holding Atem when he was born, comforting Seto when he was left alone in the world, crying for his wife when Naeem was born, and welcoming his best friend's son into his arms like another son. To him, all four boys were his sons.

They were now ages thirteen, twelve and nine. Rei was finally coming out of his shell and becoming very friendly, faithful, and loving. Atem was going to be a strong ruler, and the pharaoh knew he could count on him to watch over the country.

The only one he worried about was Seto. He had grown more aggressive, and he rarely listened to anyone any more. He had been ever since he handed him over to his brother Akunadean to make the boy a priest.

Yet something disturbed him more: Rei seemed a little strange sometimes. When Rei looked at him, it was as if his deep blue-green eyes still held the light of a child's. Rei was always smiling and laughing, and he was always good with taking care of Naeem. Something bothered him about Rei but he couldn't understand what it was.

"Maybe he has decided to be a kind and gentle soul after all he went through. It is better than most people," the pharaoh often told himself.

He walked over to the window where the boys were playing hide and seek, Seto not interested, Atem on the look out, while Naeem and Rei giggled under a bush. Atem heard them and started chasing them. Rei put Naeem on his back and began running. His hair was growing faster, and now his curls reached to his neck.

The pharaoh sighed, and smiled. It hit him. He had to laugh. It had escaped him all these years. Rei was not a boy at all. Rei was a girl, trying to escape a destiny she didn't want. She had learned how to rule a country as a steward, she had be trained to fight for her pharaoh, and she could read and write at higher levels than any child he had seen in a long time.

He sighed again and smiled. Rei had grown on him so much, he couldn't possibly hurt her. He wouldn't say anything until the time was right. It would spoil what innocence she had left.

The pharaoh turned away from the window and let them play. He would talk with her later.

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After playing in the hot sun for hours, they boys wanted to take a bath in the lake in the gardens. Kei shook her head. "Let's take a bath inside."

"Aw come on Rei," grinned Atem. "What's the matter? Feel a little small around the future pharaoh?"

Kei growled and kicked Atem straight into the lake. Naeem and Seto laughed until tears formed in their eyes. Seto and Naeem joined Atem in the lake the they were trying to coax her in as well. She was just about to sneak off when she bumped into the pharaoh.

"Now Rei, where are we going?"

"Uhh, well, I umm….erk.."

"Afraid of taking a little bath with the other boys?"

"I am not afraid I just, uh, I took one this morning! Yeah that's it!" Kei said nervously laughing with many sweat drops.

The pharaoh patted her head, told her he understood, and winked at her. Kei stood there, wondering about the man she fondly called "Uncle". She went back to the lake to apologize about her rudeness and said she was going to take a bath inside.

The others nodded, but Naeem tugged on the tunic. "Come on in! It's fine Rei, we won't laugh at you!"

"Naeem could ya let go of my tunic? It's loose since your brother ripped it…"

"I will but you hafta come in!"

"Naeem, I am serious about this. Please let go of my tunic."

"Aw come on it'll be-" They all heard a ripping sound as the tunic tore off Kei's body. "…fun…?!"

The group blinked as Kei covered herself with the torn tunic. She sweat dropped repeatedly and was nervously laughing.

"Honored brother," asked Naeem in a distant voice. "Why doesn't Rei have his-" Atem quickly covered Naeem's eyes. Seto looked away, blushing like mad.

"A GIRL! ALL THIS TIME YOU WERE A GIRL!!" screamed a man in the distance. It was Minkabh, the Pharaoh's high priest.

"I think I am in trouble….any chance I get a head start?"

Minkabh laughed. "No chance little girl.."

"Too late!!!!" Kei said, leaving a large trail of dust behind her. Kei ran as fast as her long legs could carry her, and was in the palace before the word spread. She ran to her room, changed quickly, and gathered only the important things to her: A book of her fathers, her mother's necklace and ring, her lucky dice from Bakura and her sword. She tied the sword to her waist, and took off again.

By now the whole palace knew and people were trying to catch her left and right. The tunic she wore now was a little small, and a little tight. Wearing this only proved she was a girl, since now the two things could be seen growing from her chest. Kei dodged kitchen slaves trying to catch her in burlap sacks, guards trying to slice her in two, priests shooting spells at her. Kei amazed herself at how agile she was. She decided the main way to the door was too obvious, and went down the way that she took when she went to see Bakura.

No one was there to stop her, but she kept running. She had to. She was looking behind her when she ran smack into someone. A boy. She stopped dead, but was soon received by a warm embrace.

"Seto…"

"You need to go with that boy you sneak out to see every now and then. Lie low for a little while, until the heat dies down. Let your hair grow out a little, but don't start dressing like a girl, they will be looking for that."

"Aren't you going to come with me?"

Seto shook his head. "We both can't leave Naeem can we?"

Kei felt guilty. She was leaving the little boy she cared for so much. She was leaving behind her favorite partner Atem, but most of all, she was leaving behind Seto. She screwed up her courage and told him.

"I love you." but her voice wasn't the only one. Seto has said it too. He kissed her on the lips gently and told her to run.

"But, we won't see each other again!"

Seto just tapped his temple. The mind link would always keep them together. Kei hugged him and kissed his cheek. She ran off as fast as she could, and she couldn't muster up the courage to look back. And Seto didn't want her to.

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Kei was almost there. She could see the wide open doors of the palace. There were few guards there, and she could easily get through and run into the city of Thebes. She said a quick prayer, and jumped down from her hiding spot. The guards noticed her and gave chase. She was out of the palace, all she had to do now was run down the steps. The stairway seemed so long, but she didn't care. She was almost free. Instead of running one at a time, she used the length of her legs and skipped over two or thee steps at a time. She was halfway down when she noticed guards coming her way, up the stairs. But they weren't preoccupied with her; they seemed to be dragging a kicking and screaming peasant girl. Kei got past some of the guards up front. She was almost there, it was so close! But then the girl broke free, and ran straight into Kei. She was harshly grabbed by Minkabh, who held her up by the neck.

"Ah, your freedom, so close yet so far away. To bad, I would have actually respected you had you escaped. But you are just another failure." He added very softly in her ear. Just like the stupid girl that ran into you. Just like the young prince."

Kei was enraged at this and kicked Minkab hard in the groin. He let her go and fell to the ground in pain. The girl looked at Kei in utter amazement. She was fighting back like she was actually a guard of the palace. She ran under the legs of the guards surrounding the girl and helped her up. The two girls ran for their lives.

"So what's your name?"

"Shukura, what's yours," replied the girl with blonde and magenta hair.

"Kei. Nice to see I am not going to be the only one on trial here."

"What do you mean by that?"

Kei pointed to the way they were running, which was now blocked by Minkabh performing a spell.

"Shit," Kei growled.

"What do we do now," Shukura asked

"DUCK!" Kei shoved Shukura down and ducked herself. A few of the guards took the hit instead. Kei began to try and create a shield, but it was taking to much of her energy. Shukura tried to tell her to stop but Kei wouldn't listen.

"Run! Just run! Don't worry about me!"

Shukura wouldn't leave. This girl had saved her life. She shook her head and stood next to Kei. Kei looked over, energy gone, and smiled.

"The girl and boy that follow me tell me I can trust you…wanna be…my…friend?"

Kei fell, unable to support herself. Shukura held Kei, taking her sword and holding it up against the guards. But it did little. They were bound together and sent to the dungeons to await trial. Kei stirred awake and realized what happened.

When she realized where she was, it was as if someone was locking the cage of a once free little bird. Even though she didn't show it, Shukura knew her spirit had been broken. And she could help but feel at fault.

"I am so sorry you got caught, this is all my fault!"

"Nah, don't worry about it, stuff like this is inevitable sometimes."

"But they might execute you for impersonating a man! That's as high of a crime as stealing!"

"And?"

"You'll die! You're only, what, twelve?"

"So?"

"You are still young! You shouldn't throw away your life!"

"I want to die. That way I can be with my family and friends…."

Shukura had tears in her eyes. She was looking at the soul survivor of the demolished village of shamans. That village was rampant with psychics, shamans, priests, and Egypt's finest doctors. It was held in high regard. The poor girl didn't even know who she was.

"Don't you know where you come from? Who you are?"

Kei shook her head.

"I came from a village. It was burned down by murderous thieves. I was left alive cause I hid like a little coward. That's who I am."

Shukura shook her head. "You are someone very special! Someone with a great power inside you!"

"Ya know, that's what my dad told me before he died. I never understood what he meant."

"That little boy and girl you see, what do they look like?"

"Look for yourself, they are sitting right in front of you."

Shukura saw nothing but the empty dungeon.

"I guess it never occurred to you that you could see things that most people can't."

"But Mahado and the other priests could see them! Seto can sometimes see them!"

"What about everyone else? Haven't you noticed people look at you funny when you start talking about a little girl and boy that follow you around? Haven't you noticed they probably never age and wear the same clothes again and again?"

Kei thought for a minute. She did remember the stares from when she was younger. She remembered Mahado telling her to not go around telling people she could see what they couldn't. She remembered Atem teasing her for having "imaginary friends".

"You are from a village of priests, psychics, doctors, and shamans. Didn't anyone tell you that?"

Kei shook her head. No one ever had. Shukura hugged the girl. "You'll be fine. You have the spirits to guide you."

"So, will you be my friend?"

Shukura laughed. "Sure why not?"

That moment a guard came and took Kei away. Shukura was very worried about her, but she didn't see her when she was called up to be put on trial. But, relief came over her when she saw some concubines taking Kei with them.

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Hey! Its me, Kei! I'm not the only girl who's gonna make an impression in this story. Shukura makes herself known in the royal court by causing Minkabh's dismissal! Also, I'm forced to becoming Atem's fiancé, but how does he feel about it?

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Bardock: You almost didn't touch this one, ne Una?

Una: Why?

Bardock: Its totally in FW style!

FW: And that's a bad thing?

Bardock: Just an observation. I'm tryin' to be a little more serious in the commentary.

Yami: I do hope people have read the other stories.

Yugi: It still makes sense if you haven't read them. ^_^ I like Naeem! He seems nice.

FW/Una/Bardock: ^_^'

Yugi: What's up?

FW/Una/Bardock: Nothing!

Yami: Why'm I so spoiled?

Una: You're a prince! You're so arrogant in the real series. I definitely think you'd be that spoiled!

Yami: Only because of Vegeta's influence.

FW: I think you're spoiled too!

Yami: That's because you're a Seto fan, and all of them are out to get me!

FW: *hiding a large Texas Chainsaw Massacre chainsaw behind her back* Now why would you say that, Yami-kun?

Yugi: o_o *scoots away from Yami and FW*

Bardock: Just review their story before I lose my mind!!!

Yami: You mean 'Go bananas'?

*they fight*

Yugi: So much for Bardock's serious observations!