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: Set doesn't know Akunadin is his father. This holds importance for the plot (obviously), and will be something that rears its head later in the fic. It does rain, but rarely and sometimes in the north. This occurs 3-4 years before the end of Egypt, but things happen in that time. The line Set recites is a passage from the Hymn of the Nile. Does he get what he wants? Read and find out.

Summary: On a rare day of rain, Set makes his move and secures something he has had his eye on for a very long time.

--

Chapter 8: Hymn Of The Nile

--

Three days later, Set found himself pacing back and forth in his room. Three days, and the Hem Ntjr had still not discovered the identities of the spies. Three days of inaction over Neith. The last time he had approached her, Set had been psyching himself up for several minutes. The young man had finally managed it, and what had resulted? A measly closeness of bodies, but nothing of substance, and that would not do. Set wanted all or nothing.

But still, she was beautifully warm. And that smell…Set sighed, conjuring up an image of Neith. You're almost there. Only cowards quit.

Alone in his room, that was when Set heard the pitter-patter of water.

Curious about that sound, the Hem Ntjr walked over to the balcony and saw the overcast sky. Something wet then hit his head and he held out his hand.

Rain. I've never seen it rain before. Perhaps this is a good sign. The Great River itself offers me it's blessing...

Set closed his eyes and listened attentively, the gentle sound intermingling with that of the excited people who were now dancing senselessly. It was so peaceful that he knew what he had planned was right.

Lord of the fish, during the inundation, no bird alights on the crops. You create the grain; you bring forth the barley, assuring perpetuity to the temples. If you cease your toil and your work, then all that exists is in anguish. If the gods suffer in heaven, then the faces of men waste away… Set then smiled. You truly are divine: both of you. Thank you for gifting me an answer. Now I know what I must do.

Set stepped back under the roof and quietly watched what was happening. The people below him were dancing around in circles, and the Hem Ntjr could hear the excited chatter of children. Not only that, he could hear his own heartbeat. Why be fearful when the Great River itself blessed his desires? The River itself promised Neith to him. Now he knew that he would succeed.

It's the perfect moment; the rain is out, so why delay the inevitable? You want her now, not in three years time, Set thought, still watching the rain. It's blessed by the gods and the River itself, the one on whom all life depends. You are bound to succeed.

I know… I guess I should go and find her.

The young man turned on his heel as he thought of Neith and gazed back at the rain, whispering silent thanks.

--

Walking through his room and out into the hallway, Set strode forwards. A pair of guards moved to the side and bowed respectfully as the Hem Ntjr passed. The young man soon reached the lower level of the estate's palace and a thoughtful expression was in his narrowed eyes as he thought of the white and red-robed girl.

Set had tired of all this waiting and dancing around each other. Today he would get what he wanted, Neith herself. The Priestess had originally been a thorn in the Hem Ntjr's side, but now she had grown into something else. Neith had blossomed into a beautiful flower, casting off the shell of her childish nature.

Something inside Set told him this woman was something special and had been proven right. Neith was something Set knew he could not let slip to another person, which was why he had to act before someone did. He had to keep her to himself. It was only fair. Did he not deserve something good, after all he had suffered?

A black lotus was what Neith was. She was beautiful and mysterious. Neith was a black lotus that would be worn on his robes and no one else's.

"You're such a beautiful thing, aren't you, Neith? You're perfect for one such as myself, and no one but myself should be the one that claims you," Set uttered, more to himself than anyone else in particular,

"Yes, you're perfect for one such as myself," Set muttered again.

The Hem Ntjr glared glaring sideways at a guard who was looking at him strangely as he progressed around a corner and saw what he was after. Set proceeded to move in closer to Neith, who he could see was watching the rain fall.

--

Neith, meanwhile, continued to gaze silently at the rain, hearing the sound of footsteps behind her. It very rarely rained at all and the young woman knew she was lucky to see it. She continued to watch the calming sight, briefly turning with a smile to face Set as he came up behind her.

"It's a beautiful sight," Set murmured, as Neith turned back around. "I can't remember the last time I saw the rain."

"Yes, you're right. It is beautiful," Neith admitted.

Set then walked up behind Neith, rested his hands on her shoulders and clutched at her dress. The young woman felt herself growing more relaxed. It was as if such a thing seemed right.

Why should I continue to struggle? Why should I grow so concerned? Neith wondered.

The Hem Ntjr had come up with nothing. It was as if the spies were totally invisible. He was also insisting that they spent time together. Why was he interested in her? The one called Set had always been a stoic individual, and why was he paying her all this attention?

Neith glanced back at the one behind her.

"Hem Ntjr, what are you doing here? I thought that you were busy in your room watching the rain," Neith commented quietly. "What do you want me for?"

Neith then sighed softly as Set's hand slid to cup her cheek.

"So many things," Set mused quietly, a finger twining Neith's hair. "Things you can only dream about."

Set then crossed his arms over Neith's chest, reaching up with a hand to press her head to him.

"I – I wouldn't know…" Neith murmured, blushing.

Yes, you would. You want him. You're just delaying it because of some silly fear. And are you sure resisting his advances isn't for his benefit? You know he likes challenges, Neith thought, countering her own feelings. You know how you feel about the man behind you. What have you got to be scared of? That vision? He's the one who excites you.

That was true. Whenever Set left, she felt empty and in need of his company.

"Please, I have duties to perform. Just let me go and I'll be on my way," Neith pleaded.

The priestess shrugged Set off, and the Hem Ntjr followed Neith as she walked away.

"But I insist on us spending some time together, Priestess. We have not seen each other for a long time and I feel lonely here without your presence," Set replied, walking up alongside Neith and easily keeping up with her pace.

Set's eyes were watching Neith as they passed through a row of pillars.

"Don't lie to me. The last time you saw me was a few hours ago. You keep on pestering me for your company and I find myself wondering just why you would do such a thing. Good day to you."

Finished with her speech, Neith strode away, ignoring Set's numerous attempts to catch her attention. She could feel her heart beating faster. Her skin was starting to blush and she ignored Set's calls. All she wanted was to go back and tell him how she felt, that she did want him. Easy, right?

Then why does it seem so hard? the young woman pondered.

"Neith, you shouldn't deny how you feel," Set announced.

Neith came to a stop, but then she shook her head. Even if she wanted to, it was out of the question. Even if she did want to see where this relationship could go in the future.

"What's more, I have something to tell you," Set added.

Neith gasped in surprise as Set grabbed her and threw her up against the nearest wall. Also, the priestess realised that the Hem Ntjr now had her wrists pinned up either side of her head, but that was overshadowed by how impossibly close they were. She could feel his chest pressing up against hers; he felt so warm.

The young woman's breath came out erratically. Set may be someone you did not want to cross, but Neith felt differently about getting involved with this enigmatic man. He was someone who had that elusive air and he reeked of power.

"Hem Ntjr! What do you think you are doing?" Neith exclaimed.

Set, on the other hand, felt pleased as he sensed Neith raise a hand to brush through the delicate hair that lingered at the base of his neck. A hazy smile appeared on her face and he smiled. Neith was immature at times, but there was something there. He was interested in her, was he not? Besides, the tamest cat could still be wild on the inside. Yes, nice and wild.

The young man grew warmer just thinking about it.

"I want to be with you, Neith. I know you want to be with me," Set whispered, putting his face in front of Neith's.

The Hem Ntjr could hear Neith murmuring quietly, knowing his voice was one of his more potent weapons. He had gotten so close…

Pulling Neith up closer, one of Set's hands slipped around to the woman's back and pressed against her rear. Set felt elevated as he felt Neith's body pressed up tightly against his own, the two of them hidden in the shadows of the corridor. He then looked to see if anyone was nearby.

Perfect, Set smiled.

Pretty soon, he would have what he wanted. He had already laid the groundwork; he had seen the way Neith's eyes glimmered when she saw it was he who had approached her. She had also not tried to escape, seemingly content to remain put. The air was wet and thick with warmth, making it the perfect night for his little plan.

Set's fingers clenched tightly around Neith's arms, rubbing lightly against the smooth skin.

"What I want to tell you is…"

Neith sighed as she felt a thin pair of lips pressed lightly to her neck, then she jumped as she felt something move. Set's lips touched hers fleetingly, causing her to close her eyes.

"…I always knew you would be mine," Set finished.

For a fleeting moment, the young woman felt all her cares drift away as Set proceeded to deepen the kiss.