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 a few more OCs mentioned that belong to my friends, not me, but fit into the main story.

Author's Note: Set doesn't know Akunadin is his father. This holds importance for the plot and will be something that rears its head later in the fic. It does rain in Egypt, but rarely and sometimes in the north. As you may have guessed from the title of this chapter, it's finally time for Set to make his move! And will he get what he wants? Make sure you keep an eye on the next chapter, that's all I can say.

-o-

Chapter 7: Set's Plan

-o-

Later, several weeks after the night he had shared with Neith, Set was awake late at night in his quarters, reading the hieratic scrolls that held the regular reports on the state of the harvest. As the Hem Ntjr's hand scrawled something in the corner of the papyrus he felt somewhat strange. Leaning back, Set found himself thinking of Neith. She was a mystery to be sure, and that smell of lotus blossoms about her was heavenly. Clutching the writing feather tightly in his right hand, Set cursed when he accidentally snapped it in half.

Why does she make me feel like this? Is it because I love her? Set asked himself.

If that's the case, why haven't you acted on your feelings? his inner voice replied.

The Hem Ntjr cast the broken feather onto the floor and rested his face in his hands, moaning in frustration. If he acted on how he felt, he ran the risk of rejection, but he could also gain something more. And if Neith was making him feel like this, then was it not better that he stopped himself feeling the way he did? Set was used to the emptiness of a lonely existence and it did not concern him, for he was a loner by heart. Yet, it was the frustration of being caught in the middle Set found unsettling. He did not know whether to act and he disliked it.

That's it! You're afraid! Your father died in battle, and you're scared to tell a woman how you feel! How pathetic! Set's inner voice jeered.

Oh, shut up! Set snapped angrily.

As Set's inner voice taunted him, the brunette slammed his table with a fist and sent the jar of ink flying off the side. It smashed on the floor, black liquid staining the stone as Set groaned. That stupid voice was right; his father had died honourably in the midst of combat, so why was he scared of something so simple? Inside Set's mind, Neith seemed to be more present.

A warm feeling rose within Set as he moved himself and the chair to the left to avoid the ink puddle. The mix between lust and love quite strange, but the young man wondered why he should act on it. He could get any woman he wanted. But where was the fun in that? He wanted to be stimulated, not drowned in boredom.

She does kindle something inside of you. You yourself said that you enjoy her company, the voice thought aloud.

Yes, I did say that, Set admitted.

So why not have her about more permanently? You never know, she might be good in bed, his voice whispered, sounding somewhat wicked.

Set looked across at the bed draped in linen and furs. The young woman he was fascinated in, Neith, had a feline air about her. Sometimes she was calm and at other times she was irate to the point of insanity. Then there was that wit. Cats were known for being intelligent creatures. Neith seemed to lounge over furniture like a piece of fabric. What would it be like if she was there in person? Set could see it perfectly; Neith was leaning on her back upon his bed, her bejewelled arms dangling over the side, her deep voice tempting him forwards. She was not there now, but he could make sure she would be. But this motivation of his was merely a voice, after all. He was the one in charge.

Please! There is more to life than sex, Set thought, discreetly crossing his legs.

But you can't deny that you're not thinking about it. You are a man the last time I checked, his inner voice responded, sounding sarcastic.

What was he even arguing with himself? Set scoffed; he was the Hem Ntjr for crying out loud! Whatever he wanted he got. Be it spell books or Neith. At least he would prove that he was not a coward because he could not act on some simple feelings. Set knew he was the greatest of the priests who served the Per A'a, not a coward who was unworthy of a father who had died so nobly.

"Yes, yes; she will have to be mine. It's a matter of pride, of honour," the Hem Ntjr mumbled to himself. "No woman gets the better of me."

Neith had always challenged Set by avoiding all the Hem Ntjr's questions. Set smiled; so what if he had not actually asked her yet? Neith was not stupid. Set might be feeling somewhat licentious towards the brunette, but that burning heat was also mixed with something more soothing. It alleviated the warmth and made the Hem Ntjr feel as if he were walking on air. Set knew that this second feeling had to be love. His arms pushed him up from the chair and the young man now found himself facing a final decision.

Perhaps such a thing would do me good, the Hem Ntjr mused inwardly.

Set did not even look back as he opened the door. The corridor outside was soothingly cool, and no matter what Isis had seen he would have his way in this matter, as he did in all the others. Set then started to walk off down the corridor.

I guess it's time to start speeding things up. Now all I have to do is pay a little visit to the Per A'a. Heh, heh, heh.

-o-

"… And so, Per A'a, because of this recent problem Per-Bast has been having with thieves and Syrian spies, I ask that an escort and myself be dispatched to the city. The power of my Sennen Item will ensure a swift conclusion to this unfavourable dilemma, and make those foreign invaders divulge the information that they contain."

Once where he needed to be, Set had prostrated himself in front of the young Per A'a, who had listened patiently to his request, and as Set remained bowed he fought back the urge to rise to his feet as an equal to this boy. For that was what Atemu was, a young, inexperienced boy. After a brief moment eavesdropping on Mahaado's report, some drivel about the security of the temples, Set had seized upon the opportunity to fell two birds with one stone. Smiling to himself, the Hem Ntjr thought about the other thing he would do once he reached Per-Bast.

Neith will be mine. She will be. I won't let it go. Not this time, Set swore.

"I agree. Take the men that you need," Atemu announced.

"Thank you, Per A'a. I shall be successful. Those foreign spies shall be rooted from the soil of this land." Set looked up at Atemu as the young boy conversed with Shimon, who acted as Atemu's adviser. "Is there something else you wish to tell me, Per A'a?"

Atemu gazed at Set as the Hem Ntjr rose to his feet.

"Yes. Make sure that you keep the true nature of your mission to yourself. There is no need to frighten the populace," the Per A'a ordered.

Set bowed to Atemu and turned on his heel to head outside. Isis was watching Set closely, as was Akunadin. As he walked past the veiled Priestess, Set stopped and they exchanged glances. Isis could not read minds; there was no need for him to worry. He was more concerned about Akunadin, who no doubt had been able to see his true intentions. Thankfully, the tall, thin man was keeping his silence.

"Is something troubling you, Priest Akunadin?" Set asked.

"I just want you to be careful."

"Don't worry," Set replied. "I shall be."

-o-

Later in the week, unbeknownst of the plan, Neith glanced down at the assembled soldiers in the courtyard below where she was standing, the gentle breeze alleviating the summer warmth as the priestess waved a small fan in front of her face. Per-Bast, the city Neith had been entrusted to protect, was suffering from the burglaries it had been subjected to by this foreign band of thieves, but it was still as beautiful as ever.

Yet, even I must admit that it pales in comparison to another sight. Though I know not why, the priestess thought.

Neith turned her head to the side, casting a glance over her shoulder at Set who was also gazing down from further along the balcony. The Hem Ntjr had been there for a while now, silently remaining in the same place even though he had been there longer than she had, not deigning to speak one word. It was as if Set was thinking deeply about something, waiting for the right moment.

Set, apparently, had come to deal with this problem her city was having. He was sure to manage to catch these spies they had heard tell of and make them reveal their secrets. Even the Per A'a himself was said to look away when caught by Set's gaze.

Neith had to admit that she had been surprised when she had seen who it was that was to offer her their assistance. Set was not the one the priestess had been expecting. Neith had been expecting either a mass of guards or Shadah. The holder of the Sennen Ankh seemed to be the one who usually took care of such matters. Neith squirmed inwardly; instead, she had gotten Set.

The Hem Ntjr had arrived several hours ago. The first thing Set did after his arrival was to catch a quick rest. As for the last few hours, Set had been watching Neith an awful lot. Or so Neith had sensed. She could not be too sure, and it was unwise to go around saying things that could get her into trouble with someone who was technically her superior. The white and blue-clad priest bore such a strong air of authority that it threatened to overwhelm her in places. Set was not the gentlest person Neith had made the acquaintance of, but he bore such intensity that it offset those around him.

What would it be like, if he were to stare at me with such eyes? Neith then wondered. Or to hold me close with such arms.

The priestess's heart beat faster within her chest as she saw Set tense, the Hem Ntjr obviously aware that he was being watched. Neith continued to watch Set as he quickly turned around to look at her with those eyes, her face turning a shade of red as she looked back down at the Hem Ntjr's entourage. It was not exactly the subtlest move she had made.

The guards down below were now talking with some of the city folk. The townspeople had been filled with an enthusiastic tendency upon the announcement that they were to be visited by the Hem Ntjr himself and were now gathered around the entrance to the temple, being kept back by several of the guards. Being in charge of the temple, it was Neith's duty to help run the city and to report to her superiors in the capital.

Even if it's Set, Neith smiled to herself. Hem Ntjr to the Per A'a himself.

It was strange that such a young boy like Atemu could hold all that power. The Netjer may have ordained him, but Neith could not help feeling that somehow, somewhere, they had got it wrong. Immediately the priestess banished that thought. Atemu was the rightful ruler, even though he was young. With age came experience. Yet, could Atemu handle all this power and the power of the Sennen Puzzle he now possessed?

"If you stare any harder your eyes will fall out of their sockets. Mind you, the Per A'a holds so much power he can summon gods. Is that what fascinates you, lotus?" Neith heard Set whisper roughly into ear, suddenly aware of the fact the Hem Ntjr had came up behind her, their bodies just about not touching.

Neith gasped in surprise as she glimpsed a blue eye out of the corner of her eye. Set was breathing huskily into her ear, the blue eye lazily staring at her as she stared back. Set probably knew that were she to move back they would collide, and something told the priestess that would suit him just fine.

"Is that what you look for in a man; power? Tell me, Neith. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be with someone who held power?" Set murmured into Neith's ear, still not touching the priestess as he came just a tad closer.

The young man's breath was moist on Neith's ear as the priestess suddenly felt a whole less self-assured.

Set's head rested on Neith's shoulder. Neith looked down as the Hem Ntjr's arms coiled around her waist, a pair of well-cut hands clasping together as she felt the sudden desire to push Set off and run away as fast as her legs would take her.

"Tell me, lotus, have you ever wondered what it would be like to share such a person's bed? Or are such thoughts too pure for your innocent female mind?"

Set was driving Neith insane! The young woman did not know how to express herself. Her tongue was tied into knots, so she pathetically shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll leave you to think about it; I have work to do. Anyway, you know where to find me, should you need to," Set announced, pulling away from Neith and striding away, disappearing before Neith had the chance to call after him and tell him how she really felt.