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…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.

Author's Note: In this chapter, things follow a similar path to the manga. Though there will be differences later on. Lots of differences. Those of you who have read the manga will know what Bakura means by Kuru Eruna. And if you don't, enjoy the chapter.

Summary: Bakura strikes at the royal palace and Atemu is hard-pressed to defend himself. Will the thief get what he's after; Atemu's head?

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Chapter 26: Bakura Strikes

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Set remained ensconced within the shadows, located to the side of Atemu's throne, and as he watched two guards drag in a criminal by his arms he found himself thinking of Neith. After Atemu's discovery, it had taken him a while to get back into the boy's good books. It had not done his reputation any good to have it found out that he had gotten a woman pregnant during a time he was supposed to have been sexually inactive. At least the worst he had been forced to do was to re-swear his oath of loyalty.

That's not the only thing, though, he thought, watching on as the criminal was dumped before the priests.

For the last three years, he had secretly been building up support, making pacts with dissatisfied nobles, promising them power and spreading false rumours that would have long-term effects on Atemu's reign. He had learned from his last mistake; this time, he was prepared to wait until the time was right to make his move.

"Set, what's going on?"

"This man is to be judged by the Sennen Items. If found guilty by the scales, his evil Ka shall be removed, banishing the evil from his mind before he faces his sentence." He looked down at the young Pharaoh and then at the foot of the throne. "You are now of age, Per A'a, so it is time you learned of the purpose of the Items; judgement."

He folded his arms as Karim's scales found the would-be thief guilty. Shadah then moved forwards, raising his Sennen Ankh to the man's forehead. Akunadin came forward next, his arms gently outstretched as the Ka Shadah had identified began to form, extracted with the power of the Sennen Eye. He had to explain all of this to Atemu. His head then shot up; his mentor had called his name.

"Set! Seal his Ka!" He glanced at the Ka, which resembled a winged humanoid dragon, no taller than himself. "Do it now!"

He walked down the steps, a cold look on his face. Once he had reached the bottom he looked down at the criminal in disdain. His Ka was so weak! Raising the Sennen Rod, he pointed it at the Ka, his upper lip curling.

"Be sealed, evil Ka!"

He focused the Sennen Rod's power, which steadily grew warmer in his hand as it ensnared the Ka. Once it had been trapped, he turned towards a blank tablet that had been erected and pointed his arms at it. The Ka burst out of the Sennen Rod's grip and straight into the confines of the tablet. Upon the blank stone appeared an image of the Ka he had just sealed.

He then turned to face the throne, glancing over his shoulder at the criminal, who had fallen into a blank stupor.

"Take him away. Put him to work after a hundred lashes. That's a nice round number." He looked up at Atemu, folding his arms. "Though I would suggest to you, Per A'a, that you look for a stronger Ka, one more befitting a ruler of Kemet."

"Very well. Would you like to take possession of it?"

"Not really, but I can find a use for it. Leave it to me."

His lips curved into a smile. It would make a fine gift for his lotus. She needed cheering up. And she was having his child; the least he could do was to look after their welfare. Until she had found out she was with his child, she had been inconsolable.

--

A year ago…

"You're so pretty, my dear lotus. You're more beautiful than the sparkling waters of the Great River on a lazy sunlit afternoon," he murmured, his arms coiling around Neith.

There was an alluring gleam in his eyes as he whispered into her ear, his left hand running through her hair.

His poor lotus; she looked so sad. He hated to see her looking unhappy, a dark cloud of depression obscuring her light. Such beautiful and rare flowers deserved to bloom. He wanted to be there when she bloomed into happiness once again, as he had been the last time, on the day they had been conjoined. She was so beautiful, and now that they were married she belonged only to him.

They had been trying for a baby, an heir to the family bloodline, someone who could carry on his work after he had gone and ensure his family's place in history. Atemu's line would fizzle out, unless that wife of his produced an heir, and his would continue to exist. Father may have died in battle, but he would make sure his memory lived on.

"Shush, don't be sad. It isn't your fault, Neith. I hate to see you sad. We're still young; we have plenty of time to try again," he whispered, soothingly, hoping his words gave her some comfort.

His left hand was now gently stroking her cheek, his other resting on top of hers, causing her to drop her roll of parchment.

He heard her sigh; she was probably saddened by the fact she had failed, yet again, to conceive. It was unfair. Why were those pathetic peasants allowed to breed like ants whilst he was kept waiting? His mentor, Akunadin, told him to have patience with them, to treat them kindly, but he was swiftly losing any respect and concern for those fools.

"Neith, stop working and look at me. You will have our child, and you will be gladdened that you did so. He will be as wise as his father, and as beautiful as his mother," he told her, pressing her head close to his chest.

Softly kissing her head, he heard another sigh.

"I don't know, Set. What if something goes wrong? What if I die? What if he dies? What if we both die? Will you be able to handle that? The Netjer must hate me, to put me in this position," she murmured in reply, closing her eyes as he continued to lovingly stroke her hair.

Holding her close in a protective manner, he attempted to comfort the crying woman. The Netjer may hate her, but he never could. Sure, she had her moments, but she also had her charm. How could he hurt one of his most cherished possessions? If anyone came between him and his lotus, be they Atemu, the other four priestesses, or his colleagues, they would be crushed.

"It's okay. I'm here, lotus, and I will never leave you. I shall be with you after death. I will be your shield against all the evils in the world. My soul is your soul, and your soul is mine. We shall have a child, trust me," he breathed, holding Neith close to him.

His hands clasped her head as he gave her a deep kiss, his resolve to fulfil his promise filling every fibre of his being.

--

"Everyone, be careful! I can feel someone coming close; someone with an evil heart."

Isis's warning immediately roused him from his thoughts. Looking at the Priestess, who had her hands raised to her Sennen Tauk, he raised a curious eyebrow. Right then, a gleeful chuckle echoed throughout the throne room.

"I suppose that I should be privileged that the Honoured Ones see fit to include me in their discussions. But then, I don't have the time to chat."

There were shocked faces all around as he swirled to face the entrance. Standing there, as large as life, was a white-haired man. He was dressed in a red and gold-lined coat and a dark blue skirt. But what really caught his attention was all the jewellery that bedecked the intruder, and the large object behind him.

"Who the hell are you?" he barked, glaring at the intruder. "How dare you invade the Great House of the Son of Horus!"

"You're a fine one to talk, traitor!" the intruder leered, walking forwards.

He heard a scraping sound. Peering past the thief, he could see what appeared to be a sarcophagus. A rope was tied around it, on which the intruder was pulling.

"Don't look so surprised. I know all about your misnomers. We could have been friends; we hate the same person, after all. But then, you have something I want. As do I."

"Like what?" he scoffed.

He looked on in increasing horror as the white-haired intruder removed from around his neck a familiar-looking pendant. It was thrown at him, and it landed with a clatter at his feet. His mind froze as he looked down at it, and he silently leaned down to pick it up.

Neith…

He then rose, tightly clasping the golden pendant in his left hand, his heart pounding in his chest.

"If you're wondering about your whore, she's safe; or maybe not. You can never trust the word of a thief."

He growled, raising the Sennen Rod threateningly as the white-haired man came closer, pulling the sarcophagus along with him before dumping it with a loud thump.

"Anyway, allow me to introduce myself to my loyal subjects. I am the King of Thieves, Bakura. And I've come to claim what's rightfully mine. The villagers of Kuru Eruna demand it."

Akunadin paled behind him as Bakura cockily raised a hand.

"I've come to claim your Sennen Items." Bakura then smirked and rested a foot on the sarcophagus. "I'm here to show that my dissatisfaction with the Per A'a reaches back to his father's reign, but you'd know all about that. I thought that he might appreciate a visit from his dear departed daddy. Aren't I a thoughtful person?"

"You evil son of a…"

Bakura laughed at Mahaado's curse.

"I'm not evil; I just cheat and steal!"

Glancing at the pendant in his left hand, he felt himself becoming increasingly angry. The Sennen Rod seemed to be fuelled by his anger and hatred as he pointed it at Bakura. This common thief had dared to threaten his lotus. He had to pay.

Both Atemu and Shimon were close to tears as Shadah stepped closer to the self-proclaimed King of Thieves. The Sennen Ankh raised high, the priest froze on the spot as he saw what laid in wait inside the thief's mind.

"Shadah! Get out of there!" Karim yelled.

Placing his lotus' pendant around his neck, he immediately felt the feelings of love and protection that it filled him with. But there was an underlying darker side; one that was prepared to give all and to go to any lengths to protect the one she loved. So this was how she felt about him. He really had left a mark on her.

"His Ka, it's so powerful," Shadah said, breathing heavily.

Bakura smirked, a dark cloud convalescing behind him into a monstrous figure. Its upper half was that of a human, but its lower half was that of a serpent.

"This is my Ka, Diabound."

He glowered as Bakura smiled. Come what may, he would make sure the thief paid for his crimes.

--

Much to his anger, it had not been easy. In fact, he was downright bewildered. Shocked that such an evil man could have a good Ka, they had been on the receiving end of the size and strength of Bakura's monster.

His first plan, to seal Diabound away in a tablet, had failed. Momentarily, he had thought it had succeeded, but it had been too strong and had broken free. Then he had faced it with his Garles Dragon, intending to exact upon the thief his own form of revenge, but this too had failed. Diabound had passed through his dragon and attacked its tablet, causing it to disappear.

Then his colleagues had faced it, but they too had been forced to savour the bitter taste of defeat. What else could they expect when he had failed?

I've failed Neith as well, damn it! He slammed his fist on the floor, where he now lay. Failure is not an option! Not now, not when I'm so close to finally reaching my goals!

"You're as weak as your old man, Per A'a, and just as pathetic. But he got what he deserved, as will you," Bakura threatened, walking towards Atemu, who had risen from his throne.

He then felt a foot upon his back and growled angrily as Bakura continued to speak.

"I may be a thief, but I'm not a traitor. You should watch out for this one. But at least I keep my word."

He breathed out as Bakura's foot was removed.

"Like my word that I'd kill you! Diabound! Attack the Per A'a!"

The Ka moved forward to strike, but he watched on as it was stopped in its tracks by a magical circle. He rose to his feet and turned to look at Mahaado. He had a hand to his chest, his face pained as he focused. His Illusive Magician was hovering in front of him; it had trapped Diabound with one of its special abilities.

But this proved futile.

Diabound broke the spell, the magical circle shattering, it's snake-mouthed tail biting into the Illusive Magician. He should have known that Mahaado would fail.

What we need is power. Nothing can withstand this Ka, except maybe...

"How can you stand there and insult my father? He was a kind and decent man who only wanted peace for our country. I won't allow it!" He heard Atemu yell, the now sixteen-year-old rising from his throne to face the intruder.

"Be quiet!" Bakura spat venomously. "You know nothing!"

"I shall give you the fight you want, but on my own. You shall regret your words!"

Wondering what Atemu would do, he thought about which one of the Three Gods he would summon. Now having proved capable of summoning not just Obelisk but also Osiris and Ra, Bakura would get a taste of being on the receiving end of their power, just like he had.

His eyes widened as he saw Obelisk being summoned, and the look on Bakura's face told him that the thief was considering his opponent, but he ordered Diabound to attack anyway. His strategy lacked any real planning, and he would pay dearly for it.

You fool.

Diabound's attack did not even faze the God, which countered furiously with an attack of its own, using the very same one that had defeated him in the past. Diabound was struck full force by the fist of Obelisk and it disappeared, causing Bakura to keel over in pain.

He watched as the thief raised his head, blood seeping from the side of his mouth.

"I… I'll leave you alone this time. But I'll come back later. Just you wait. This is far from over, Per A'a."

He walked over to Akunadin as Bakura ran away, disappearing through the wall.

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Several minutes later, after Bakura's exit, he was still standing next to his mentor as they waited for Mahaado's report. According to the magician's enquiries, it seemed as if the impudent thief had escaped.

As he coldly stared at the holder of the Sennen Ring he felt a flash of contempt. Whenever he made a mistake, that insufferable prig was always there to chide him. But now no one was saying a word! He tightly clutched the Sennen Rod and walked forwards step by step, indenting to make his feelings known.

"Do you have something to say, Set?"

"I do. You failed, Mahaado. It was your duty to see that no harm came to Akunumkanon's tomb. Yet that infidel was able to drag him straight in here! Due to your failures, I state that you should be relieved of your priesthood."

Mahaado remained silent as he smirked. He knew that he was right, as did Mahaado. Perhaps now he had been given the excuse he needed to rid him of this particular thorn.

But then everybody's heads turned when he heard a woman's voice calling out his name. Neith came running in, causing him to do a double take. Her face held a look of urgency and she almost tripped over as she ran up to them. She was alive!

He fingered the pendant that hung around his neck, awkwardly holding her close as she flung her arms around him, crying into his shoulder. His left hand rose to stroke her hair. He was well aware of everyone watching him as he let her go.

"Tell me what happened."

She looked up at him, her eyes watery.

"I – I was caught outside by someone calling himself Bakura. Set, he threatened to kill our baby! I thought he was going to kill me!"

He rested her head against his chest as she cried, her words getting to him as Isis exclaimed quietly behind him.

"Set, perhaps you should escort your lady upstairs and make sure she's all right," Akunadin advised him. "I'll report to you once we're finished."

He nodded and escorted Neith out of the throne room, and she continued to sob into his chest as he held her close. His left hand shielded her protectively as he shot a look at a guard they passed. To think that the thief had threatened her made him furious. He had worked too long to get here where she was today, and he was unwilling to let the last three years go to waste.

What was more, it was partly Atemu's fault. He may now possess physical and mental strength, but he had obviously failed in his duty to protect his citizens. Just like Mahaado.

As did I, but they'll get what's theirs. All of them.

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