Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or its characters. I do own my OC, Akunriou / Tory and Kishtoh, plus the storyline.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTICES!

MidnightBallad: Read the notes on the first three chapters.

P.S: If you see 'present' at the start of the chapter, then that means the story is set in 'the now'. If it says 'past', then it is set 3, 000 years ago, back in Egypt.

I'd also like to thank the people who reviewed and I've also got some messages:

Auroran Wings: Believe me; you don't want to see my attempt of humour. Thank you very much for the tips anyway, and I'll try the humour thing. Um...did you read my Zoids fanfiction too? LOL

Jen: The exchange student is Tory, and you'll have to read to the end of the story to understand a lot about her. Alternatively, read Tory's profile on my fanfiction personal profile. I did now want to give a lot away, so the prologue does not have much about her in it. I also cannot avoid the Playstation, as it is my life, but so is writing! Thanks for your comments, though.

Legansimay (I hope I spelt that right): I have a friend in Washington! Thanks for your comments. Yayness!

On with the story...

Past: Who are You?

Seated on her horse behind the High Priest Seto, Akunriou watched as the royals and their horses rode past other workers, some hauling sandstone blocks, others dragging large statues into place. Akunriou had never been this far from her home and, as scared as she was, she could not help but feel excited.

The palace loomed out from the sand like some sort of ghost town. It was the most amazing thing Akunriou had ever seen – the front part of the palace was a huge flight of stairs, every third step pots of bright pink lotuses bloomed. Servants bustled up and down these stairs, carrying all sorts of things in baskets and speaking to one another as they walked.

The top landing led to the door, which was covered by a long, purple pair of drapes. Two palace guards stood here, with a spear and dagger each. A balcony ran around the perimeter of the palace also, and the rest of the building towered over the staircase, casting a long shadow into the east. (A/N: I know the palace doesn't really look like this, but work me here!)

'I see that you have not been this way before, child.' Seto commented, seeing Akunriou's stunned face. She turned away from the Priest and shook her head. 'No, my mother has never allowed it.'

The horses stopped before the towering sandstone palace, and Pharaoh Atemu swung from his steed, followed by two servants. He turned and spoke to Seto. 'Take Akunriou to the guest bedroom. Have her introduced to Mana and the others – they shall be able to help her later.'

The High Priest bowed to Atemu. 'As you wish.'

The Pharaoh ascended the stairs, followed by his other priests, and eventually disappeared through the curtained doorway. After a few moments, the High Priest began to climb the staircase too, and Akunriou followed nervously. She kept silent all the way.

Eventually, Akunriou entered the "entrance hall" of the palace. It was very quiet: the Pharaoh was nowhere to be seen. 'You shall wait here whilst I find everybody. I may be a while.'

Akunriou watched as the High Priest swept off. Now she was all alone...but not for very long. Before Akunriou knew it, there was a puff of black smoke and a girl appeared before her, holding a very strange staff. Akunriou froze.

'So, you're the girl?' the new girl said quite loudly. 'My Master was expecting you to come.'

Akunriou stuttered, 'He...w-was?'

'Of course! My Master knows all!' The girl grabbed Akunriou's right palm and spread it wide, biting her tongue between her lips. She traced the lines with her finger, and then exclaimed, 'Aha! This,' she traced a particular line on Akunriou's hand. 'Is your fate line! I foretell troubles close by.'

'That is just superstition.' Akunriou said darkly. The girl, however, went on reading her palm. 'You have an admirer! Lucky you! I hope he's cute!'

Akunriou looked, dumbfounded, at this strange girl.

'But it's not a good thing; this man will hurt and lie to you! And another will turn on you. Last of all...you will fall onto the trail of love –'

Akunriou snatched her palm back. 'Okay, that is enough.'

The girl cocked her head. 'You do not believe me?'

'Mana! I have been searching the palace's very walls for you!'

Akunriou and the girl, Mana, turned to see another priest walking toward them. A very large, golden ring hung around his neck; his eyes were quite stern. Immediately, Mana bowed her head to the man. 'Master Mahado! I – I'

'You should be studying!' the Priest Mahado told his student. 'And not running around, scaring the life from our guests.'

'But!' Mana objected, pointing at Akunriou. 'It is that girl you were speaking of! Remember, Master?'

Mahado glanced at Akunriou. With her shawl over her hair, she looked like any normal civilian. Before he could say anything, the High Priest Seto returned with two more priests – one was an older man with a golden eye, and the other was a very beautiful woman wearing a Tauk.

'Is this the girl, Seto?' the woman asked, watching Akunriou closely. 'She does not seem any different.'

The High Priest raised his hand, and a blast of wind escaped it. Akunriou's shawl blew off, and once again, her golden hair was noticeable. Mana shrieked and jumped back, falling over Mahado. Akunriou automatically threw her shawl back over her head. Seto began to walk off once again. 'Isis, Akunadin: bring our guest with us. Mana, Mahado, the Pharaoh requests your presence also.'

Still very stunned from the sight of Akunriou, Mana cleared her throat and skipped into place behind Seto. The old man, Akunadin, gestured for Akunriou to follow the High Priest, and she did quite quickly. Finally, Isis and Mahado took up the rear of the group.

- -

Seated on his throne overlooking the construction of Egypt, the Pharaoh's thoughts were ruptured as five of his priests, with the "cursed girl" between them, entered the throne room and each bowed. Mana hit Akunriou on the head with her staff to make her do the same.

'Pharaoh, we have brought you the girl,' Seto said, straightening up. 'As you requested.'

Atemu got up off his throne and looked through his priests at the dirty, sandy Akunriou. The priests each moved at least ten paces away from her. Akunriou noticed that they each sat down in a high-backed chair that had been carved into the wall. Atemu waited until they were seated before he began to question Akunriou.

'Tell me, Akunriou – what is your mother's name?'

Akunriou spoke very fast. 'Anak-su-ra, my Pharaoh. She is a worker.'

'And your father?'

'I have no father, as far as my mother has informed me, my Pharaoh.'

Atemu looked at Akunadin. His golden eye winked at him, edging him to ask more questions. 'So...your mother is a commoner and your father you have no recollection of. Is that true?'

Akunriou nodded. 'Yes.'

'So how did you become as you are? Was your mother cursed whilst pregnant with you?' Atemu asked.

Akunriou sighed very softly. 'I do not know, my Pharaoh. But, some would say that my mother was cursed – so, perhaps.'

Atemu walked over to Akunriou and looked into her eyes. Both were a very deep brown at the moment. And then she blinked, focused her attention on the sun in the sky, and one eye became a clear, aqua blue. Atemu stepped back.

'Who are you? Are you sent from the Gods?'

Someone laughed. Mana was grinning stupidly. Atemu remained silent, as if asking Mana to speak. The magician girl said, 'Highly doubtful, my Pharaoh. It seems as though some fool has played with life and somewhat...mauled it.'

Akunriou craned her neck to look at Mana. She frowned, and her blue eye changed back to brown as she blinked back a tear. Her other brown eye, however, became green.

The Priestess Isis asked, 'Mahado? You are a man of magic. Tell us, did the Gods inform you of this girl's arrival?'

Mahado shook his head. Mana grinned widely again. 'Told you so.'

'Mana, silence,' Atemu warned the girl. He then left the room, saying:

'Akunriou will stay here for the night, and I will decide whether she returns home in the morning or not. See to it that her wounds are mended.'

Akunriou clenched her teeth. 'My Pharaoh –'

Isis stepped up behind Akunriou. 'Do not object, child. The Pharaoh will not be pleased if you do so.'

Akunriou knew that it was pointless to argue, so she bowed her head in defeat and nodded. 'Yes, Priestess.'

'You may call me Isis,' the priestess said. 'Now, come. We must get you out of those clothes and into something clean.'

- -

Akunriou had been dressed in a long, white gown, which was stitched with golden thread and had an Egyptian Ankh also stitched onto the back. The long sleeves were thin, and almost transparent so that the wearer would not become too hot – this was a slave's dress. Isis helped Akunriou to pin her hair back with pins in the shape of flying cranes, as much as Akunriou objected to this. Akunriou had also wrapped bandages around the wounds she had received from the whip.

'Isis...is the Pharaoh as cold as people say he is?' Akunriou asked.

Isis sighed and shook her head, dark shadows cast across her eyes. Night had fallen in a twinkle of silver stars. 'No – he is a kind Pharaoh, Akunriou.'

'Then why must I stay here?'

Isis took Akunriou's old clothes to get them washed. 'The Pharaoh is...curious. He wonders if you can help him.'

'How so?'

'People, such as yourself, who are different, usually have magic in their blood. Magic unlike the Priest Mahado and Mana. This magic could help him, if he can prove that is exists.' Isis explained.

Akunriou nodded. 'And how long will I stay?'

Isis said quietly, 'As long as is necessary. Now, go to sleep. I shall be back in the morning.'

When Isis had gone, Akunriou sat on the stone windowsill, gazing out into the cold Egyptian night sky. She sighed, the Priestess' last words churning through her mind...

As long as is necessary.

-End Chapter Four-

MidnightBallad: Thanks for reading through these chapters for me. I thank all of you who review – any questions you have I will answer in the next update. By the way, I do not know how any of the Priests act, but I am trying to use Mana as a comic relief character, or at least make her brighten up the serious mood of the palace. If you readers have any ideas for pairings, let me know, but some will be coming later anyway.