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…) There are also a few more characters mentioned that belong to my friends, not me, but fit into the main story.

Author's Note: Neith's own Ka is based upon a card that is played in the modern anime, and I'm sure you'll get what its ability is; trap cards in the present day are based directly upon the abilities of Trap Ka/Monsters from the past. Diaha is the word used in the manga. It means 'duel'. And spirit-beast means that it's the person's own Ka, rather than one they've summoned from the Veju Temple, the place where captured Ka are stored. The Supreme Priest De Zart is called Great Dezart in English. Events so far happen four years before the events of the manga and anime, but it involves elements of what's to come and will eventually cover the fall of Egypt.

Summary: Duels are like relationships. Both can be between friends, enemies and even lovers. But when you fight, you can suddenly find that friends can change into something more…

-o-

Chapter 6: Duels Are Like Relationships

-o-

Set sat patiently cross-legged upon the soft floor cushion, and as the Hem Ntjr observantly watched the tense woman sitting opposite him he smirked to himself as the male slave departed the room, having brought in the food and drink to be consumed. Not only was it the dawning of the day of the Pharaoh's celebration, Set was also thinking about all the possibilities he had been presented with by having Neith here.

Well, I had to use my position to threaten her into coming here… but results are results, the young man thought.

Having arrived, along with four others, Neith had needed accommodation in the palace or one of the city temples. Of course, Set had blackmailed her into taking up his offer of a place to stay. The others the Hem Ntjr did not much care for.

Then there was the fact Set had ordered all food to be sent to his room. The young man hated having anyone or anything in his wing of the palace, save for his books and various servants that were needed. Neith had to know her place.

Set stopped reaching for the food; the woman who he had sensed watching him was a much more interesting prospect.

"What are you staring at, Neith? Can't you look somewhere else for a change, or do I hold some fascination for you?" The Hem Ntjr smirked at Neith before leaning back, his legs outstretched as he conspiratorially lowered his voice. "You know, if you come down to the lake when the sun rises, you can see me bathing without my kilt."

"I don't want to look, thank you very much. I'd probably be disappointed. I, like my contemporaries, am here for the festival: nothing more, nothing less. I do not appreciate being threatened."

Set chuckled to himself, amused at the defiant wit of the woman he was talking to, all the while comparing Neith's good points to her bad ones and thinking about whether such a thing would suit him. At times, the brunette could be quite engaging. Even he had to admit, Neith was good company. Set then crossed his arms behind his head, glancing at Neith through narrow eyes.

"What a shame. You refuse me, and yet here am I, complimenting you on your good taste."

"I did not mean to seem rude, Hem Ntjr."

Neith looked at Set, her eyes slipping down and then hurriedly away.

My, my, my. Is that a blushing Priestess I can see?

"Please, call me Set." Set gestured with his hand, the food still uneaten as an idea suddenly came to the young man. "You know, we haven't duelled for a while."

"Is that a challenge, Hem Ntjr?"

Set closed his eyes and nodded as he pushed himself up to his feet, the priestess whose company he had blackmailed himself into remaining silent. Neith was a young woman whose relative maturity had suddenly made her much more interesting, as a prospect and a character. Not that Set cared for such things, but he had the wisdom and common sense to notice when things suddenly became of value to him.

"Of course, though we shall have to ask the others to clear the area. And I thought that I told you to call me Set?" Set looked down at Neith as the brunette gazed back up with him. "I guess I shall have to punish you for such transgression. It will not do. I could have your head on a plate, if I wished it. Be grateful that I have chosen to have my satisfaction another way."

Set then stepped back as Neith reached forwards to grab a peach.

"Yes. You're right. I apologise."

-o-

Later, east of the Palace at the Duel Stage, Set waited for Shimon, the Per A'a's adviser, to walk up beside the stage. As the Hem Ntjr glanced momentarily at Atemu upon his throne he felt a flash of contempt. Looking away, Set saw that there was also an audience. Mahaado, Isis, and everyone else of importance that were here had decided to watch Set's duel with Neith. Clutching the Sennen Rod tightly in his left hand, Set bowed his head and remained perfectly still.

"You shall duel with two stone tablets each. The winner is the one whose opponent's monsters cannot fight anymore. Is that understood?" Shimon asked.

"Perfectly, Lord Shimon. Neith, do you want to quit whilst you're ahead? You are facing me, after all." Neith was staring back at Set as the young man smirked at her and clenched his fist in anticipation. "Ah, I see that the lion does indeed have teeth. Very well, have it your way."

"Diaha!"

Set immediately brought the Sennen Rod across his chest, gesturing with his free hand as a ripple of energy surrounded him. There could be no reprieve for an opponent, no matter how much they fascinated you. They had to be cut down immediately and he had just the tool to do it. It was time to test out his new strategy. If Neith interested him, he would first check her potential.

"First, I summon my spirit-beast, Dious! Then from one of the tablets I shall summon Garles Dragon!"

"Then from the temple, I summon Supreme Priest De Zart!" Neith replied.

Set's spirit beast appeared, hovering in front of him, and Set smirked as one of the tablets behind him rumbled and began to rise, the same occurring on Neith's side of the stage, upon which was the carved image of a magician. It soon appeared, clothed in white robes and wearing a snake-like headdress. It stood alone on the stage with its arms waiting patiently by its side. Behind Set, the dragon emerged from the tablet, the familiar warm thrill of battle flowing through the Hem Ntjr's blood as the dragon's front claw slammed onto the stage before it emerged fully. He had not seen this De Zart before, but he had heard about it, and why did Neith only have one Ka on the field? It had to be a trap monster, but what?

A woman with brains; interesting. Surprise me, dear, Set thought, smiling inwardly.

Set glanced at Neith and saw that she was clutching at her pendant, her eyes closed and her face harbouring a shifty smile. If he attacked, he could see just what she had in store, but he could also suffer a severe setback. And if Neith was going to do what he thought she was, then it was better he kept Dious out of harm's way. He had duelled her a few times before, and that tactic of hers had almost resulted in his defeat. 'Almost' being the keyword.

"Are you sure you want to attack? Wouldn't waiting be a better idea?" Neith asked Set, opening her eyes.

"Like I care. Garles Dragon, attack the enemy Ka!" the Hem Ntjr replied brusquely. Neith then smirked as the large dragon pushed itself onto its hind legs, stepped forwards and opened its mouth to emit a plume of fire that shot towards the opposite end of the stage.

Soon, the fire collided with an invisible wall that shimmered like a mirror before it reflected the attack back at Set's dragon. Set and Dious hurriedly swerved in opposite directions to avoid being crushed by the large dragon as it fell to the ground, defeated by its own attack, and disappeared. The tablet fell back down with a bump as Set uncovered his eyes to see a winged beast resembling a lion floating in mid-air, its wings flapping to keep it aloft.

You got me again. Perhaps you're not as bad as I thought you were, Set thought inwardly.

"Heh, heh, heh. Well played. But you'd be a fool to think that was all I've got," he then added.

"Well, I'll just have to see about that. De Zart, attack his spirit-beast!" Neith replied.

There was a loud rumbling as Set hurriedly activated his second tablet. Upon it was the image of what looked like an aqueous splodge, one of the Hem Ntjr's new Kas that needed testing. And it was one half of his new strategy. A strange Ka appeared on the field. It was little more than a semi-transparent blue slime with sorrowful indents for eyes. It oozed noisily, splashed onto the floor and reformed itself from the puddle. The same happened again, and Set noticed with some amusement that Neith looked disgusted.

"What is that? It's disgusting!" the young woman asked, feeling nauseous.

An evil smile appeared on Set's face as Dious suddenly sliced its sword through the slime, dividing it into half and causing it to splash lifelessly onto the floor. Not only was it something he could disgust Neith with, it was also the Ka that would prove to be her undoing. The sword Dious wielded was suddenly covered in a burning fire that warmed the area around the Hem Ntjr.

"It's the perfect sacrifice. But now your spirit-beast has already used its ability for this turn, so it can't counter my retaliation. Dious, attack her priest! Off with his head!" Set ordered.

Dious jumped forwards to attack the white-clad priest, decapitating him with the sword. The Ka's head landed on the ground, as the body fell, no traces of blood as it rolled to one side before both the body and head vanished. It was a Ka; it would survive. Though Set would not put it past the Ka to be annoyed with its master.

But that was not the only surprise Set had in store. The young man stepped out of the glutinous blue liquid as it seeped across the stage and splurged beneath his feet. Set closed his eyes and felt himself tire slightly as the liquid suddenly splashed about of its own accord, reforming itself into the slime he had summoned earlier. Neith may have used a Ka capable of summoning the undead Lich, but this Ka truly was eternal.

"Surprised? Whenever the Revival Slime is felled by another Ka, I can choose to revive it by paying a tenth of my Ba." He then smirked at Neith. "And now, it's my turn."

"You'll give up your Ba? What do you plan to do?" Neith wondered aloud.

Set then saw that Neith suddenly had a shocked look on her face, no doubt having worked out his plan, and he gazed back smugly. She could work things out! Excellent. The slime oozed nearby, its see-through body quivering and reforming itself constantly. This combination was only just being tested, but if it worked it would be one of Set's favourites, as it offered him infinite attack power. It was only a small price to pay to bathe in victory.

"If that's all you've got, then your best isn't good enough! My spirit will destroy the Revival Slime again and again as a sacrifice to increase its power until it has enough strength to pierce through that holy barrier of yours."

The Hem Ntjr narrowed his eyes, the cycle repeating itself several times until Set was satisfied that Dious had enough power to destroy the barrier Neith's spirit-beast could produce. It was fortuitous indeed that he had not long ago found the Ka of the Slime within the body of a sentenced criminal and claimed it for his own. According to the reports, its owner had deserved everything that happened to him. At least it would be providing him with loyal service. Set looked at Dious, the sword it wielded now covered in flames that crackled and spat violently.

"And now it's over. Aura Crush!"

He gazed wickedly at the Priestess as his Ka launched itself towards the lion and broke through the magical barrier, which shattered like glass, and flew towards the golden beast that was hovering just off the ground. The large aura sword it wielded soon sliced through the creature, and as the winged lion burst into flames and disappeared he heard Neith let slip a cry of pain as she fell to her knees. Gazing at the fallen Priestess, he filed the information away for future use as Shimon raised his hand and announced the result of the duel.

"The duel has ended. Set is the victor!" Shimon announced.

"As to be expected," Set muttered quietly, folding his arms as his spirit-beast disappeared.

The Hem Ntjr unfurled his arms, walked across the stage and looked down at his defeated opponent, Neith's head still bowed as she hurriedly caught her breath. It was quite an interesting sight, to see one who you found interesting humbled at your feet. It was almost sensual…

Set found his eyes slipping downwards, and that was when the young man saw that Neith was now staring him in the eye. Set's eyes then flicked up as Neith gazed up at him, her head falling once more.

Set grabbed the brunette's hand and pulled her forcefully to her feet before letting go. For the brief moment that their hands touched, he had felt her warmth through his cool skin. Neith's breath was raspy as she hurriedly breathed, intoxicatingly so. Even if Set could feel something, he soon shrugged it off.

"That was not too appalling. Train more, and we shall duel again." Set leaned in closer and whispered into Neith's ear. "I look forward to it."

Set then turned on his heel and walked off the stage, aware that he was being watched as he departed. He could hear Isis and Neith's so-called friend Subira rushing over to her aid, and as the Hem Ntjr looked back over his shoulder he saw Subira supporting Neith with an arm.

"Are you feeling all right, Neith?" Subira asked.

"I – I'm fine. I just need a bit of a rest. I feel like I've had the wind knocked out of me," Neith replied, sounding exhausted.

-o-

Neith paced back and forth in front of the open-air balcony, the purple curtain of which was pulled aside and tied back, and as she did she found herself thinking more and more about Set and what had transpired in the duel. That evening after the duel, she had finally finished resting after the defeat she had been handed. Neith hated defeat, but still at least Set had defeated her. And that combination was truly inspired. Perhaps he was the one.

Isis showed me… You don't like him, Neith! You hate him! Get your priorities right, or... the brunette mumbled inwardly.

"You look troubled, Priestess. Does something ail you?" a voice queried.

Neith jumped out of her skin, after which she turned around to see her unsought visitor.

"Gods! Your habit of turning up unexpectedly gives people a sharp surprise, Set. But I'm fine." Neith paused for breath. "Really, I am fine."

That was when the young woman noticed that she had first called the Hem Ntjr by his given name, and that the one in question was watching her with those cold blue eyes.

"You don't appear to be fine. Do you need aid? My room is just down the hall," Set offered.

"Hem Ntjr, I'm…"

Neith looked down at the floor subserviently and stood quietly. The man in front of her was not known for being kind or gentle, and Neith did not want to get into any sort of trouble that would make her life difficult. Not only that, she felt embarrassed. What would people think if they saw them? Sure, nothing was going on, but it only took one false rumour to get it started. This was Set, after all. And he despised rumours.

"Did you not hear me, woman? Call me Set. I am insisting upon your presence. Besides, it would be good to have some level-headed company for a change," Set demanded.

"What? I, oh. Very well, Hem... Set."

"That's more like it. Come. Let us depart."

Neith quietly followed Set as he looked back at her, and the young woman that the normally sardonic, harsh man had not said a word. It was unusual. Set seemed to be being nice for a change. Things had been shared between the two of them, things that the both of them had disliked revealing. Surely it would be all right to just see how things progressed tonight? It was not like such a thing would change her whole destiny.

-o-

"Is not the sky beautiful tonight? So many stars, and to think that they float so high in the heavens looking down on us. What do you think, my dear? Was the meal provided for us this morning not splendid?"

Neith looked up at the tall Set, and as he coolly gazed down at her she looked away.

"It's nice, I suppose. And yes, yes it was," she murmured.

"You sound nervous; don't tell me you're scared of being alone in my company? There's no need to worry, I won't take advantage of you. Not tonight, anyway." Set chuckled to himself, and Neith knew that Set knew she could hear it.

"I meant until I am in need of your services in the festival tomorrow," Set told Neith, amusedly. "Or are you afraid of being alone in the company of a man? Tell me the truth, however harsh it may seem."

"You know, many women wonder whether you're a man at all. They cite your stoic nature as a prime example. You so loathe company that you cannot possibly be a normal person. And just to let you know, I think it's a fallacy. I mean, who are they to say what's normal?" Neith replied firmly.

"You're philosophical this evening. It's good to know I have at least your support. And I will have you know I am a man, just like any other. Yet at the same time, I feel different, and I do sometimes feel the need for company." Neith then felt Set clasp her hand and the hair on the back of her neck rose.

What was going on? She had told herself that nothing could happen! Well, perhaps one little something would not hurt. Neith knew that Isis's necklace showed the future, but how could it progress from one harmless little walk to ruin, destruction and a child? She might find the Hem Ntjr interesting, but not that interesting!

Feeling somewhat tired, Neith shivered as she felt the crisp breeze that had blown in from the desert against her skin. The brunette's confused mind was trying to get over the fact that Set was holding her hand and that she was holding his equally in return. Set looked down at her and then ahead with a wry smile. Neith shivered again as Set began to shift, suddenly feeling a light but comfortably warm cloth drape over and cover her shoulders.

"Here, take this. It will keep you warm," Set told her.

What was Set doing? He was supposed to walk away, smirk and say that it was her own fault she came ill prepared. Not look after her as if she were a delicate flower.

"What are you doing? You can't give me this!" Neith protested loudly in surprise.

Set ignored the brunette's protests, draping the cloak he usually wore over Neith's shoulders and tying a knot to make it secure. Neith felt Set retake her hand, his arm linking with hers. What was happening on this night out made the young woman's breath catch in her throat. Her eyes flickered about nervously and she now found herself left without words.

"I'm just covering you up. It would be a shame if a lotus caught cold and froze to death, thereby losing its beauty."

Neith did not make a move as Set's hand rose to lean her head against his shoulder. She could feel the long, slender fingers absentmindedly combing through her hair. It was so peaceful, even with the threat of Isis's vision hanging around in the back of her mind. Perhaps she had been right to come out this evening.

"It is unusually cold tonight," Neith admitted.

"Yes. So I've noticed." Set brought them both to a stop, his hand still playing absently with Neith's hair.

"You've been noticing an awful lot of me recently," Neith said quietly.

"Well… perhaps that's because you have given me more to notice about you," Set replied.

"I – I didn't mean to sound disrespectful."

Neith fell silent, feeling Set let go of her hand, only for his arm to coil around her waist as they began to head back towards the city down below. The young woman's skin was flushed and warm. Just what was going on?

-o-