Hello again everyone! I apologise for the delay in updating (I seem to be doing that a lot lately) but I'm sure you can understand christmas this year was a kind of special family one, which left me little time to actually write. However, the next chapter is now here, and I think some of you will like it!

Reviews time!

To a-yolanda13: Yes, lime soon... here's your update ^_^
To Goku-Benji: Hey, ya know my writing style by now... since when have I ever done 'a fuck for the sake of a fuck'? XD Of course there's gonna be fluff!
To ObiWanGirl: Okay, okay, here's your update ^_^
To rebelphoenix: yelled at? Oh yeah... very much so... Nope, no lime this chappie... next chappie maybe ^_^
To smarty1: Here ya go!
To Taddybear: *dances happily* here's more!
To 'Firecat': *holds up bottle of cough syrup* Methinx ya need this... Here's more anyways ^_^
To Misseystar: Glad you appreciate the extra effort ^_^ Hope you enjoy this one too!
To 'Bryanna': *giggles* Sowwy I couldn't do it too soon... but enjoy!
To Darkwolf193: Heh... you're keen on One Last Breath, aintcha? Well, once things calm down at this end, I intend to get a bit more done on it! At least I know what I'm aiming for now...
To 'Confused Child': *revives* Don't die yet... there's still lots more to come!
To trekkie-54: *blinks* I'm so glad our postal service sucks... I guess the 'present' got lost ^_^'
To Dutchess Murasaki: You'll see ^_^
To Shade25: Whee! Happy tears! XD Lime next chappie maybe, bit of brutality for Set this time
To silver_fox20: Thankees ^_^ Nothin of him this chappie tho...
To blazing_kodachi: Glad ya like it... and naughty you for getting grounded1 XD
To Miyaki Cairo: Lime due soon, and I'm contemplatin turnin it into a lemon too...
To Miami-chan: Here ya go!
To Pan-Chan83: Have added ya to my yahoo thingie ^_^ Glad ya like my work ^_^
To Yuki KIKI: Yeah! The official religion of Yugi! Yugism... or possibly Hikarism, coz then we can worship Ryou and Malik too... Whoo! Anyone who wants to join the ranks of Hikarists is more than welcome! Glad ya liked the OC's, I have tried to keep them reader-friendly ^_^
To Yami Yami Yugi: *giggle* Yah, now that ya point it out, maybe I did put a bit much of me into Osiris XD And not sayin what the mission is!
To Kiawna: Here ya go!
To galenhiril: *rocks on* Heee, glad ya like!
To Bi Panda: *blushes* Nyah... I'm not ready to think about marriage yet... Dun wanna do that till I can afford it for one thing! Thanks for the gesture though! *huggle*
To Chaotic Bystander: *glomp* I like CB better ^_^ here's the next chappie!
To '_VIIIXIX_': Whee! People learnt new stuff! My research wasn't wasted! ^_^ And don't worry, there will hopefully be a lemon in this one!
To 'foxyboykurama': Hehe... I dunno which was the supreme one... depends which of the cults you believe! Glad ya like, here's more!
To bluey-chan: XD Glad ya like ^_^ And I mite explain the goat thing... dunno yet...
To Fighter-Chick-Charsi: Yeah... lotsa people want Set dead... and I'm glad ya like the fic! ^_^
To loki-reincarnate: Took your time dude! *thwap* Glad ya likey though... *runs off giggling*
To DAU: *glomp* Hewwo again! You took your time too! *huggle* Glad ya likey though! *proddy* Update!

Apologies for this chappie bein short, but it was all that I could do! Next one will be business as usual! XD

*~*~*~*~*~*

A highly decorated foot lashed out at the door to the throne room angrily, the owner crying out in pain as the door failed to respond to the force. Cursing loudly, Set glared at the guards stood either side of it. "Who locked this door?"

Both guards looked confused, and fear showed in their eyes. "N... No-one, sir…" One guard hesitantly walked across and pressed against the door gently, causing it to swing open with ease. Hurriedly backing away, bowing as he did so, the guard resumed his post, praying fervently that the High Priest Lord, as Set had dubbed himself, wouldn't take his anger out on him.

With a growl, Set marched through the doors, slamming them shut behind him, and strode across to his throne. He'd had the Pharaoh's throne removed – he may have been in power, but he still knew where to draw the line – and had had a new one brought in, with his name and title – High Priest Lord of the Two Lands, Set Nebkheprure – carved into it. Sitting on it with a most undignified bellow of rage, Set glared at all and sundry, every man quaking under the force of his eyes.

Things really had not been going well for Set today. From the moment he'd woken up and trodden on that obscenely sharp stone, tearing a gash in his big toe, he'd known he was in for a bad day… but he couldn't help wondering exactly which God he'd pissed off so badly as to deserve all he'd endured.

There'd been that one particularly stubborn peasant he'd had to deal with… Set shuddered at the thought, and made a mental note to have those robes incinerated. Vile creatures, the poor… though Set grudgingly admitted that the man's surprise gift was somewhat unexpected, and certainly very cleverly worked out. Had they met under better circumstances – like if he wasn't covered in fleas – Set might have even had a use for him.

Then there was the incident whilst trying to divine. It was a simple process he'd done time and again – take the knife, hack the chicken's stomach open, look at how the intestines fall and interpret accordingly. Hardly a challenging task, usually. However, since today was one of those days… Set couldn't believe he'd dropped the knife halfway across the room, and again once he'd performed the ritual and was about to slice the chicken open. The fact that the damn animal was away and free somewhere in the palace courtyard now didn't help either.

And just as he'd thought it couldn't get any worse… Set glared at the burning red wound on the back of his hand. He'd entered the shrine to Bastet to perform the daily worship, and one of the cats had actually attacked him! "Vicious little bastard…" he murmured, the injured hand fisting and popping one of the gashes open. The animal hadn't stopped till that miserable excuse for a priestess-in-training Masika had entered the room and pulled it off. And then it was as tame as a kitten once again. Set had yelled at her to perform the service for him and stormed out of the room to have his hand tended to.

Speaking of whom… Set eyed his little cluster of trainee priests and priestesses in the corner, and noticed one of the five was missing. "Dubhak!" he called to the guard who was in charge of their safety, a menacing edge to his voice. "Where is Masika Amw?"

Dubhak stepped forwardly nervously, bowing as deeply as he physically could. He even felt the backs of his legs strain as he leaned over. "High Priest Lord, she requested that I grant her some time away, as she wishes to go and check on her grandmother."

"And why would she want to do that?"

Dubhak cleared his throat nervously. Given the day Set had been having, and the mood he was in, he'd be lucky if all he got was yelled at. He was sure the High Priest Lord would take great delight in having a target to vent his anger at. "Well, her Grandmother is suffering from a long-term sickness, so she's hoping she can heal her somehow…"

Set glowered at the guard. "In that case, she can heal her during the hours she ISN'T supposed to be working! How many times must I –"

Set suddenly stopped, his yells replaced with a soft choking sound. His eyes bulged slightly, and his upper body began to suddenly jerk forward, his stomach clenching sharply. One of his advisors called out suddenly. "He can't breathe! He's choking!"

A gasp went round the room at this, people all glancing at eachother, wondering who would dare go up to help the High Priest Lord. Normally, there would be no end of people willing to curry his favour, but… his current mood wasn't the most agreeable. With a small sigh, Dubhak ran to Set. He was in trouble anyway, and he might even find himself spared. Standing behind the High Priest Lord, placing both arms around his stomach, the guard locked both his hands together tightly before jerking them sharply into Set's gut.

After a couple of attempts, the blockage came free, and Set dropped to his knees, gasping and choking for breath, and Dubhak slipped away without a word, not wanting to risk a violent backlash. Down on the floor, Set came almost face to face with the source of his problems. "A scarab… a fucking scarab beetle…" he panted, glaring. Making a fist, he crushed the bug with his knuckles, a satisfying squelchy crunch emanating from the doomed insect. Climbing to his feet, Set snarled at all in the room before striding out without another word. The message was simple – no-one was to repeat that event, ever.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Masika knelt gently beside her Grandmother, pouring a little water into a clay cup for her. Her Grandmother was, as far as she knew, her only living relative, and she loved her dearly. It was for her that Masika had decided to become a healer – she hoped that she might get good enough to heal her Grandmother before she…

Masika shook her head. She didn't want to think like that. "Gran'mother," she whispered, gently patting her shoulder. "I've got a drink for you…"

Her Grandmother smiled softly, gratefully accepting the cup. "Thankyou, Masu," she whispered. 'Masu' was a nickname Masika's Grandmother had given her a while back – it meant 'of the water'. Her Grandmother had given her it because Masika loved the rain, though she had only experienced it once when she was young. Masika smiled at her Grandmother, her murky green eyes – which were tinted with yellow and blue round the edges – sparkling.

The old woman reached up and softly brushed some of Masika's curly, sun-bleached hair back, revealing a reddish tint as the light caught it. She smiled as her granddaughter's cherubic face lit up, and whispered softly to her. "You should get back to the palace… your High Priest will be furious that you've sneaked away."

Masika scowled at the mention of Set, her round face looking almost comical as it displayed an emotion that was so rare for her. "I hate that man…" she whispered. "He's not my High Priest… I'd sooner see him dead. He's evil and manipulative, and he destroyed the Pharaoh's heart when he killed Yugi. He deserves to be fed to Am-Heh piece by piece."

The old woman chuckled at this. "Now now Masika… I've told you not to hold grudges against people…"

Masika smiled, her small, round nose crinkling slightly. "It's not a grudge Gran'mother… it's just a feeling of ill will."

Masika's Grandmother chuckled, swatting at her lightly. "Go on, away with you… I'll be fine."

Nodding, Masika stood, kissing her Grandmother lightly on the forehead. "Love you, Gran'mother," she whispered as she headed to the door. "Keep well…"

*~*~*~*~*~*

Am-Heh - A threatening Underworld god whose name means 'Devourer of Millions'. He dwells in a Lake of Fire. His ferocity is heightened by having the face of a hunting dog and an appetite for sacrifices. Only Atum [the evening aspect of Ra] can fend off Am-Heh.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Nyah! Take that Set! *swings a punch and falls over* Nyah... *cheers* Review peoples!