Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…)

Author's Note: The Festivals of the Guarding Of The Two Lands and Bast Goes Forth mentioned in this chapter happen one day after the other, around the 19th December. In the next chapter there will be more flashbacks, a new character and a Ka duel. The reason they seem on speaking terms now is something that will be revealed later, as it is an important piece of the plot. So make sure you continue to read if you want to know what goes on, and leave me reviews to let me know what you think of my work. Reviews are good for the soul.

Oh, and Fenyang in Egyptian means Conquers. A little bit of trivia for you.

-o-

Chapter 3: Foreboding

-o-

"I hear you have another festival coming up soon. The Guarding Of The Two Lands, and Bast Goes Forth the following day, if my memory serves me correctly. Tell me, what are you doing to prepare for such an occasion?" Set asked Neith.

Neith walked at the side of the tall Hem Ntjr, and as Set walked slightly ahead of her Neith wringed her hands. Not only was she still drying from her bath, she was fraught with worry. Gazing at the stone paving as they walked inside the temple, she sighed.

"The usual, from what I can remember. It's my first time since... Anyway, I'm glad my juniors have offered their help," the priestess murmured.

"You know, juniors is a strange word, considering they're nigh on three times your age. But you should learn not to rely on others. They'll only let you down." Set looked down at Neith, his tone dark and quiet, and Neith thought she felt something within that silence. "Also, I hope I do not sound pretentious, but what will you be wearing?"

A fast change of subject there, Set.

"The usual clothes one wears when conducting a celebration, Hem Ntjr," Neith replied.

Politely smiling, Neith strode forwards through the semi-dark passageways, her mind trying to make her legs walk correctly as she closed her eyes. Set soon came up alongside her, and he seemed to have the ability to know her every move and thought, even without the Sennen Eye. The priestess crossed her arms as she sensed Set looking at her.

"As for impressing your faith, I could show you some certain -ah- ways," the brunette alliterated.

Neith laughed weakly.

"I bet you could," she smiled.

Neith strode ahead as they came closer and closer to where she resided, the tall, thin man who accompanied her easily managing to catch up with her pace. Set was a tall young man whose brusque manner had made sure he managed to keep himself to himself, his attitude and the way he carried himself palpable in the air.

"Probably. It would be enjoyable. Hmm, I see we have reached your quarters." Neith stepped away as Set gazed down at her before closing his eyes. "I guess I should take my leave now. It would not do for me to enter a woman's chambers. Goodbye, Neith."

"Maybe later. Goodbye, Set," she replied.

"What did I tell you, Priestess?" Set was gazing down at her, his tone suddenly firm.

"Sorry, Hem Ntjr," she quickly added.

"That's much better," Set smiled.

Neith leaned against the wall, and watched the High Priest disappear as he looked back at her over his shoulder, Set's lips curving into a smirk before he disappeared around the corner.

-o-

'Why are you hanging around me more and more? Is there something you want to say?' Neith wanted to ask Set, knowing that he would reply with a stone cold answer. That was how Set usually replied to anything. He seemed to have grown from a cocky arrogant young teenager into an older teenager who seemed more mature but was just as arrogant. She did not know why she had found him to be interesting over the years.

And if Neith were to ask Set, he would laugh.

She would be far better off just nodding at the right moment and not arguing. Set would only work himself into a state. He would also chide her for her daydreaming. It was better to have him happy and not in a mood, but Set could be understanding, when he wanted to be.

Rolling her eyes, Neith heard someone knock on the door. Was she never to get any rest today?

"Yes, yes. I'm coming," the priestess announced as the visitor once again rapped on the door. "Please wait a moment."

Neith crossed the room and placed the scroll on the desk beside the veil. Torches flickered from outside in the passageway, her visitor silent as she pulled back the heavy curtain. Was that not?

"Ah, Priestess Isis. Why are you here? Never mind that," she added, shaking her head. "How rude of me. Would you like to come inside?"

Neith stared at the veiled Priestess and as she did Isis stared back, nodding silently.

"Yes, thank you." Isis paused for a brief moment. "Neith, there I something I need to ask you – "

Isis' words did not register, as Neith was thinking deeply about something else. Neith then stepped aside, her hand clutching the curtain as Isis stepped inside her room. On the subject of asking, she also had her own questions to ask: to both Set and Isis.

"Did you see the Hem Ntjr on your way up here? Do you know why he's here? He says he's here for the festival, but I don't want to ask him myself," she commented, sounding curious. Set seemed to come and go like the wind. He was so enigmatic.

"You know, you have the Tauk. You could always tell me why he's here. Come on, Isis. Enlighten me. Please. He sneaked in on me when I was in the pond and…" Neith gazed like a cat ready to pounce at Isis, and so the priestess's shoulders dropped when she was replied with a small chuckle.

"He sneaked in on you? My, my… It reminds me of Karim," Isis chuckled.

-o-

A year ago…

"Come on, Set! You're always such a stoic. A bit of fun will do you the world of good. Are you sure you don't want to look? You know, you don't have to be chaste for the rest of your life," Karim goaded.

Set gazed coolly at the young priest in the black wig, and as he coolly gazed at Karim, the smaller priest looked away from him. Looking down at the papyrus he held open, Set frowned.

"Not really. I have better things to do than those that are below my station," he commented.

"You're as bad as Mahaado over there. Surely you don't desire to end up a lonely embittered old man? You really do take after Akunadin: you are his little prodigy, after all. You're such a prude." Karim was starting to fray Set's temper as the annoyed high priest gritted his teeth and attempted to read his scroll. "I'll shut up if you have just one look. Come on, you know you want to."

"Fine, fine," Set breathed.

He then rolled up his papyrus, holding it in one hand as he walked over to the crack in the door.

The one who was to hold the Scales had some nerve, demanding this of him. Why was he even deigning himself to look, even if it would shut that big mouth of Karim's? And what did he think he was doing, continuing to peep inside? Set glanced to the left and saw that Neith was currently shrugging off her dress, her left hand rising to flick back her hair. The desire to pull away was being countered by a strange desire to be a voyeur as Set continued to look, hearing someone walk up to him.

"Eww! Set, that's bad!" Atemu told him, squirming.

"Oh, be quiet. I'm just doing this so the pervert over there will shut his mouth and let me get on with my reading," Set replied tersely.

Atemu seemed to understand what he was saying. But the young Per A'a-to-be also seemed to have an unhealthy interest in what he was doing.

"Can I look?" the prince asked the older boy.

"No, prince, I'm busy. Now go away," Set replied.

There was a round of light laughter as Set pushed the boy aside. Only Set could get away with such behaviour.

"I am the Prince, you know. I could have you all reported. Come on! I just want to look. Please!" Set saw Atemu jumping up and down in an unsuccessful attempt to peer over his shoulder.

So, the boy wanted to look? Set then scoffed. Well, Atemu was going to have to wait his turn. The young boy would have to learn that sometimes you never got what you wanted, not even if you were a prince. Atemu may become his Per A'a one day, but that was a long way into the future. Why should he not teach the boy some manners? But still, he was the Prince.

Desiring to move away, Set stepped to the side with a nod of his head, his mind preserving that image he had just seen. Atemu looked happy and Mahaado looked somewhat disapproving, Set noted gleefully. The brunette then pointed at the slip in the side of the door.

I've got what I wanted, Set thought gleefully.

"Sure, go right ahead. It's okay, Atemu. I won't tell." He smiled at the young heir to the throne. "Now come and have a look."

Set smirked through the side of his eyes at Mahaado.

"Set! What do you think you are doing?" Mahaado protested.

Set then saw that Mahaado was striding up behind the Prince, casting him a funny look, and Set gazed back in wicked amusement. It was just like Mahaado to be so concerned for the welfare of the youngster. Set lips curved into a smirk, and the now found himself wondering just what was going on behind that wall as Atemu stretched on his toes to peer through the gap.

"Please, my Prince! Don't look. It isn't right," Mahaado pleaded.

Set felt himself chuckle in amusement, the situation making him feel happy for once in his life. Then there were the uses this situation presented to him. He could so wind up his contemporary with this.

"Mahaado. It might do the future Pharaoh good to look for possible wives. After all, is it not his duty to produce an heir?" he enquired.

"You're a fine teacher, Set!" Mahaado retorted.

"If you're so worried, why don't you check it for him first?" Set advised.

"... You're right. Please stand aside," Mahaado requested.

Set smirked wickedly at his fellow priest, one whose magic more than matched his own, and as he did he almost choked as he saw what happened next. Gazing at the white and gold clad priest, Set smiled even eviller as Mahaado covered his eyes with his hands and began to chant.

"I am a priest... I am a priest... I am a priest…"

"Yes, you're a priest. Now out of the way!" he said.

Set then pushed Mahaado to the side and began to look at a certain someone, his head falling to one side. It was quite interesting, the rate at which women developed from little girls. Even he could tell she was a woman. That was when Set saw Neith staring directly at him. Her cheeks puffed up, as they did when she was incensed, and he now carefully backed away from the door as he saw the brown-haired priestess shout something at Isis.

"I am afraid I must be going. Duty calls!" Set announced.

The tall brunette strode past the other three, his cape flapping behind him as he hurriedly made his exit. It was so fortunate he was not there, for he could hear the girl's angry shouts from several corridors away.

"What do you think you're doing here, Karim?" Isis questioned angrily.

"I don't care what he's doing here. Get lost!" Neith added.

"It was Set, Isis, not me. I swear!" Karim protested.

-o-

The two women chuckled as they recounted the time they had been surprised. Isis, in her wisdom, had explained it with the fact that boys would be boys, especially when they were almost at the age of maturity. Neith then gazed at the Priestess Isis.

The black-haired priestess who wielded the Tauk was a quiet sort, and the fact Isis never spoke unless she had something to say managed to make the black-haired lady a joke among a few at the palace. Isis was quiet, but at least she did not come out with nonsense. That was what Neith liked about the Priestess who served Atemu. She never spoke nonsense.

That was why she had let the Priestess in; something must have spooked her.

"So, Isis, what brings you here? You're a long way from the Palace," she queried.

"I'm here for the festival. And Neith? I need to talk to you about something," Isis replied.

The thoughts that were running through the Priestess's mind must have been important, because Isis was now watching Neith as she sat down on the edge of her bed. The priestess then watched Isis stare down at her necklace as something there glowed, Isis's eyes widening worriedly as she seemed to go into a daze.

What's going on? Is it the Tauk? Neith wondered.

Isis's were wide as she saw the vision given to her, and the normally calm almost fell over as she saw something Neith could only begin to imagine.

-o-