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: The name Set and Neith give their child in this chapter means 'watching over you'. You'll get the reason why I chose this name once you've read that particular scene. And then there's the fact that together the three names form a triad, another reason I chose it. And it was imperative to name the baby as soon as it was born, so if it died early it would be remembered and could pass on to the Afterlife. I'll be going to an anime convention this weekend, so you won't get your next chapter until Tuesday. Comments will come in chapter 33, and make sure to leave your opinions. I look forward to reading them.

Summary: Akunadin always looked out for his son and is willing to go to any length to see that he fulfils his destiny. And Set never allowed himself to get close to people, but can a white-haired girl change all that?

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Chapter 32: Naming

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"So, you're awake? I see that my healers have done their job. That's good. We thought you might not make it."

He looked down at the white-haired girl as she opened her eyes, revealing that they were a shade of azure blue. Now that he thought about it, she did look like the girl from Isis's vision. His erasure of Shadah's memory had to be done; he could not afford to be grassed up to Atemu, even if what Isis had seen had portrayed him as a vicious murderer.

What does she really know about me anyway? What do any of them really know about me?

And now he found himself here, watching over a girl he had only just saved. If anything, he was the opposite. He was not in the habit of saving damsels in distress, which he found ironic. Now he had saved both Neith and this girl. Maybe Isis had foreseen something false. He did not know, and he did not appreciate the others treating him like he had the plague ever since the mostly silent priestess had shown them what her Sennen Tauk had revealed about the pale stranger.

"Where am I?" she asked hoarsely, obviously in need of some water.

"You're inside the palace," he replied, walking forward to pick up a drinking vessel someone had left beside the bed on the floor. He then handed it to her. "Here, drink this."

She reached up to take the cup from him, ignoring his cold stare as she raised it to her lips and drank. Why was he bothering to help her at all? He glanced down at disgust at his right hand, the left grasping the Sennen Rod. He could hear her drinking, and she eventually finished, after which she looked up at him with the vessel clasped in her hands.

"Thank you. You saved my life."

"Think nothing of it. I don't," he quickly replied, turning around to face the door. "Now I must be going. Others can see to you."

He walked away from her, waiting as his guard unlocked the cell door. His guard then slid the door across, unblocking his path. No, staying here was pointless. All he had to do was claim her Ka and then he could set her free, after which he could have nothing more to do with her. He would wash his hands of her, but he would not let such a powerful Ka slip through his grasp.

"Hang on, I don't even know your name!" she called after him, as he left the cell.

"That is no concern of yours. Get some rest." His tone was frosty as she called out again.

"My name's Kisara. Thank you again for saving me."

Not knowing what to say, he merely jerked his head irritably and then walked off down the corridor, hearing the cell being locked behind him. To think things would move forward this quickly; he was expecting a child, married to a beautiful woman and had finally found the power he had been looking for. Things were falling into place and he could be patient. One thing he had learned over the years since his defeat by Obelisk was the value of patience.

He left for the court; happy in the fact that now he could protect Neith and his child. And to do that, he needed the Ka that girl, Kisara, housed. There was only one person who could possibly know what plans he had forming in his mind, and that was Akunadin. His Sennen Eye allowed him easy access into the minds of others, but something told him that Akunadin was not to be worried about. The bond between them was too great for Akunadin to betray him.

With Shadah's mind purged of any memory of the white haired girl there is no one else who would even suspect my true intentions. Nothing will stop me from gaining control of that powerful dragon that lives in the body of that sickly commoner. I must be able to protect my precious ones: my son and my lotus.

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Akunadin gazed to his left at Atemu, and as he observed the young ruler he sighed. Just where was his son? Set and Shadah were past due to be debriefed on their excursion to the village, but his son was, yet again, being fashionably late. He then hurriedly gazed to his right as Set announced his entrance, his cape flowing behind him as he strode forward.

"Set, why are you late? Explain yourself," Atemu demanded. He noted that, as of late, the young inexperienced ruler had grown more confidant and sure of himself; at times he was just like Akunumkanon who had been before him.

"I was checking on my wife. She's been fretful lately, so I stayed there for a while to comfort her. My apologies, Per A'a," his son apologised.

Atemu nodded. His eyes burnt with a fierce determination that hehad seen there since Isis shared that vision with them. He looked again at his son, knowing that he had lied. He had left Neith eighteen minutes ago and there had been no sign of him. But then, what he saw in his son's mind made him choke.

That girl! Of course, now it makes sense. I can see it. He has her here, but why?

His son had been standing over a girl with long white hair, called Kisara, in what appeared to be the prisons alongside the underground chamber. Yet he had told no one of his discovery. What exactly was he up to? Why was Set keeping quiet? He had gotten the distinct impression that there was something about that girl: something powerful. Which meant that Set was after it. Perhaps he should keep quiet.

He looked again at Atemu, the wheels of his mind slowly starting to turn.

"Very well, but next time be prompt. It is unfair to keep the rest of us waiting," Atemu replied, gazing at his son. "Did the two of you find any trace of Bakura in the village? Was anything amiss?"

But how did he find her? And wasn't he with Shadah? he wondered.

The bald priest who had accompanied his son looked somewhat dazed and confused as he was asked what he had seen, replying that there had been no trace of the thief. But if that was so, then why did he seem so uneasy, as if something was amiss? He gazed at Shadah with the Sennen Eye, expecting to find the reason behind Kisara's appearance.

His eyes went wide when he found nothing, instead detecting residual traces left by the Sennen Rod.

What the?

He quickly gazed at Set, his heart beating faster as his son smirked at him, his eyes ablaze in a silent challenge. Within his mind he could see him hypnotising Shadah with the Sennen Rod, compelling him to forget about Kisara.

Well, well, well. It looks as if you're finally making a move. Well done, my boy. It's about time you did something to further our family.

He quickly shook his head, the thought that would have once been alien not so strange anymore. They had been appearing thick and fast as of late, his desire for his son to fulfil his destiny to be king overriding everything else. He would have to talk to Set and find out what his intentions were.

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Later, after the meeting, Set had been dragged aside by his mentor, who had marched him straight upstairs and out of earshot of everyone else. And the old priest, who longed to see his son upon the throne, was staring at said son with something akin to disappointment.

He had learned that Set did not seek to overthrow Atemu, meaning that he would not forcefully take the throne. Though, he had smiled inwardly upon detecting another threat; Set would all too easily turn against Atemu if provoked. He had proved that the last time. But now, he was more focused on acquiring power to protect his loved ones than killing Akunumkanon's son and seizing the throne for himself.

To protect Neith, to protect their child and to protect Kemet, but not to remove that confounded spawn of my brother! he seethed angrily, Set looking at him.

"What did you bring me here for, if I may ask?" Set questioned.

"Why did you do what you did to Shadah?" His eyes narrowed as Set looked away. "Please; don't take me for a fool! I know what you did!"

He glared at Set, who bristled. If he was only worried about having power to protect, then why had he gone to all this trouble? He had made Shadah forget so that Atemu would not find out. His son had not even told his wife.

"Why did you do it, Set?" he pressed.

"I presume you saw that white-haired girl when you trawled inside my mind?" His son sounded annoyed. "She has a tremendous power inside of her; a power that I desire to possess and control. That is why I quieted Shadah; he would have ruined my plans and snitched on me to Atemu."

Interesting. This girl has a powerful Ka, does she? Perhaps this will work to my advantage.

"Have you tested her Ka for yourself yet?" he enquired gently.

"Now that you mention it, I have not." Set then leaned backwards in the chair, linking his fingers together, a thoughtful look on his face. "Perhaps in a few days or so, once she has recovered her strength."

So you have no desire to overthrow Atemu now, do you? Well, perhaps I'll have to make you see sense. Or better still, do it for you.

A smile then worked its way onto his face. When the time came, he knew exactly what he would do.

--

Neith sat patiently on the side of the bed, and as she waited for Set to return she sighed. He had been so angry when he had left; she wondered whether he would come back at all.

Where could he have gone? Akunadin had visited her just under one and a half hours ago and still he had not returned. She had already dressed for the night but was unable to get to sleep; it was too hot! The covers on the bed were pulled back and out of place, it was that warm.

The door was then opened and she raised her head. Set was looking down at her from within the doorframe. He looked as tired as she felt. Perhaps the best way to resist pressuring him for answers and keep her dignity was not to resist at all.

She got up, walked over to him and reached up to remove his headdress.

"Let me take this for you. You look like you've had a rough day." She held it in her hands, her fingers dancing across the gilt golden cobra at the front.

"So, you've realised you were wrong at last? Strange; I never had you figured as one to surrender so easily," he commented, still looking at her.

She then turned and headed over to the desk to place down his headdress.

"I'm not surrendering, I'm playing dead. I've grown tired of all this fighting, and both the baby and I can do without the hassle. Why fight when I can get what I want in a far easier way?" She then turned back around and smiled. "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"

He walked past her, reaching behind him to unclasp his cape.

"No, not now. Let's just drop it. I'm not in the mood also."

She looked down at the desk as he folded his cape and placed it there. He then shooed her over to the bed, guided her back beneath the covers and sat next to her on the side, making sure she could not escape. He was being unusually magnanimous; perhaps he wanted to forget about something else entirely?

"Set, are you all right?"

He looked down at her, his face, oddly enough, showing concern.

"I want you to promise me that you'll never try to leave the palace again. I don't want resort to locking you up, but I will if it's the only way I can keep you safe." He then paused before clasping her left hand. "When Bakura gave me your pendant, I was so worried that the worst had happened. And that's not something I can easily admit."

She sighed and leaned back into the cushioned headrest.

"But I like my freedom. Can't there be another way?"

He shook his head.

"There's not. And I'll have two of my finest guards escort you around the palace, just in case." She looked at him, shook her head and chuckled.

"I guess there's no arguing with you. Fine, you have my word; I won't try to go out on my own again."

"It's good to know that you understand," he replied, and she felt his other hand brush her along the covers. "You know, I have some news that will cheer you up. I've finally decided on a name for the little one. It's a good name, a strong name. One into which I've put a great deal of thought."

She felt happy at his news that he had settled on a name. It was very good to hear. It gave him some way he could get involved in regarding their child, and she could always choose to name the next one that came along.

He has to have a name, he has to exist, she thought, resting her hands on her stomach.

If their child died before he could be named then he would be forgotten and never have existed. Therefore, he could not pass on to the Afterlife, and that was something that could not be allowed to happen. She shivered, thinking about how frightened she had been with that scoundrel Bakura's knife against her swollen belly. In a way, having Set demand she allow him to protect her was a relief, because she had learned a hard lesson that day. She would not defy her husband's wishes again.

"So, what name do you think could possibly be good enough for our child?" she asked.

"Well, he's making you eat as much as a crocodile."

"Funny, I never had you down as a comedian," she coughed.

Inwardly, she giggled as Set shook his head.

"No, lotus. You know, your father watches over you as mine does for me. That's where I got the name. We've lost both our fathers, and me my mother, so I thought that this would be something to remember them by." He then paused. "I've decided to call him Sobek."

She was stunned and laughed. It was a perfect name, one worthy of their son. Soon, he would be here to hold and teach the way of the world to. Set would make a wonderful father. He was so different then he had been when they had first met and clashed so explosively. That was when he had smugly tried to save her with his Ka that afternoon, when a very young and rebellious younger version of herself had fallen from the roof, but successfully summoned her own Ka, much to the disappointment of the young priest

"I like to think that our fathers are here watching over all three of us, lotus. That is why I think that Sobek should be the name our son is given."

I wonder what our children will think of as I share the story of that rocky first meeting with their father. She could not help but smile as she whispered her son's name.

"Sobek…"

--

During the early hours of the next morning, when all else but some palace guards were still asleep, Akuandin was gazing up at the tablets of the Three Gods inside the Veju Shrine. Hearing a noise, he immediately snapped to attention. His visitor was here at last. A visitor who would have no problem removing Atemu so his son would have no choice but to take the throne. He knew it was drastic, and above all dangerous, but he felt he had little choice.

"Ku, ku, ku. I would never have expected one of Per A'a's loyal servants would want to speak to the likes of me. What do you want, old man?"

Something that I've wanted for a long time.

He then turned around, gazing down the long flight of steps at his white-haired visitor. The thief was wearing the same clothes he had when he had attacked the palace. He would never trust him, but even a murdering scoundrel could prove useful.

"I want you to kill the Per A'a."

Bakura stared up at the priest, his lips curling up in wicked amusement. He then laughed, and Akunadin remained quiet, taking in the reaction of the King of Thieves.

"You want me to kill the Per A'a? My, my! What an unexpected surprise! I see now that it's not that other priest he should be looking out for after all!" The thief sounded amused. "But then, what's your reason? What could you possibly gain from the death of that weak Pharaoh? This is certainly an odd request."

"My reasons are personal. As are yours, I believe?" he said aloud.

Bakura's eyes narrowed as his expression hardened, and he raised his voice.

"My reasons are none of your concern, priest! What's my pay?"

"Here, take this." He threw Bakura a drawstring bag that he had filled with jewels and other precious things, eyeing the Sennen Ring carefully. Then it hit him; the ultimate bait this thief could not resist. "And the Sennen Puzzle shall be yours to keep."

Bakura clutched the Ring with one hand, a wicked smirk on his face as he chuckled, his other hand weighing the bag Akunadin had thrown to him.

"I would have kept it anyway. But your offer does sound interesting. All right, I'll do what you ask, but you'd best remember this. Once I've claimed the Puzzle and the Per A'a's life, I'll return to claim your eye. I only do this because it intrigues me."

He looked at the Thief as he turned and began to walk away.

"When shall it be done?" he asked.

"Soon."

Then Bakura was gone. He turned back to face the three tablets, a wicked smile spreading across his face. Everything was falling into place just like he had planned. Of course, he had no intention of letting Bakura keep the puzzle. Or the Ring, for that matter. He would have no trouble forcing his will upon the haughty thief. If he became a threat, he would be dealt with. After Bakura had shown up that day and frightened Set and Neith, seeds of a plan had been unfolding in his shrewd mind and it was almost time that they bore fruit.

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