Mijikai: I'm back. No I'm not dead, though it probably seemed I was, and Christmas Break is coming up which means…MORE TIME TO WRITE ON THE INTERNET!

Yami: Damn…why did you have to come back!

Mijikai: Reviews made me feel guilty.

Yami:...So?

Mijikai: You're impossible!

Yugi: (humming Christmas song)

Mijikai: Well…here's a chapter for all who have been waiting!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Chronicle Three

The skin on my back prickled, and I glanced up from reading one of Simon's Ra given texts, that I couldn't make heads or tails of, when the door opened, and a young servant bowed. Tall he was, with a mop of golden hair, quite unusual in Egypt, and his skin was unusually light. His eyes were honey brown that stared unemotionally at his two dirty feet. His age seemed to be close to my own, but that was only by his looks.

"What is it?" I asked.

Without looking up, he straightened his slouched position.

"The Pharaoh, great son of the above, has asked for you're presence."

"Now?" I asked, hoping.

This would be a good excuse to stop my studies for a while. And if I'm lucky, it would take all night and I would have to go straight to bed. In answer to my prayers, the slave nodded, and my heart burst with joy as I tossed the scroll into the air and ran out the door, nearly pushing the poor slave over. But my excitement was to great to even notice, as I ran down the halls, and burst through the throne room doors. I't (father) frowned in disapproval, but the relief in escaping the studies that were worse then any curse Anubis could ever cast, was to great to mind, or feel ashamed. I did bow my head, to pretend of my shame, or he might think to send me back to my studies.

"Atemu, son, come here," he said, waving his hand towards the table he was standing over.

Curious, I hurried towards the table and noticed he was pouring over maps.

"What is this for, I't?" I asked, tracing a finger on a line that outlined the ocean.

"It seems our brother's in the East have decided it funny to raid us. I will not stand it, not after I've lost my cousin in the last one. We go to war!"

My eyes widened.

"War?" I asked, cocking my head to one side.

"Yes, Atemu, war, and I want you to be by my side."

"You mean…my chariot beside yours?" I asked, mouth gaping.

"Of course. You're my heir, and oldest son."

I didn't know exactly what to think. Hot excitement bubbled within me at the thought of finally being able to experience what I only heard in history. War. Mwt (mother) had told me that I't had been in several, but that was before I was born, or when I was to young to remember, and now it was my time. I looked up at I't's face, and could see he was waiting.

Standing straight, I looked up to meet his eyes.

"I will be honored, I't," I said.

A smile came to his lips, and he placed a warm hand upon my head, before turning back to the maps.

"Then hear what you're I't has planned for these offenders."

O

"War!" Mwt shouted, frowning. "He expects to declare war at a time like this?"

My eyes shifted, before glancing at her again. Her belly had swollen greatly after the nine months, and the midwife kept hinting that the child was soon to be born. I had to suppress bitterness and excitement from welling up and forced my eyes away and looked into her eyes.

"I suppose. He mentioned…"

"Doesn't he know that this drought doesn't need anything to make our lives more complicated? Doesn't he understand that our crops our dieing, that the Nile is undrinkable and that our food supply is slowly diminishing! And he wasn't to but War on top of all this!"

"Mwt," I said gently, taking her hands in mine and kissing them. "Don't get too upset, you have my little sn (brother) to think about."

She raised a delicate eyebrow.

"What makes you think it will be a male?" she asked. "It could be a girl."

"Nope, this is going to be my little sn," I said proudly.

"And if it turns out to be you're little sn-t (sister)."

"Impossible. I've prayed to the gods for a sn."

She shook her head as if I was an idiot, before pulling me towards her, and giving me a squeeze.

"So what does my foolish Pharaoh, plan to do with this war?" she asked quietly.

Pride surged through me, as I grinned.

"I am to go with him. I't said that as heir and eldest son, I shall be by his side!"

Instead of being proud, she looked a bit horrified.

"Mwt?" I asked quietly.

She didn't answer, but only wrapped her arms around me and hugging me close.

"Ms-I, Ms- I. Ts-t, s-htp, nn ms-i!" (my child, my child. Isis, please, not my child!) Mwt cried quietly into my hair.

I was speechless, and hung there as limp as a piece of wet cloth as I absorbed what Mwt was saying. Embarrassment and anger flew through me and I pushed myself away from her.

"Aren't you proud of me! You're s3 (son) is to become a hero to his people! Some people in this land don't think I can control Kemet, but I'll show them! I'll show them I can!"

She stared at me, her cheeks damp with tears. Her hand touched my cheek.

"S-htp (Isis)," she whispered. "Nn ms-i (not my child)."

Thoroughly disappointed in her lack being happy and proud, I turned on my heels and left, hearing the words "Nn ms-i" being muttered over and over again, until I shut the door firmly.

o

"…And she burst into tears," I said, with irritation, waving a hand this way and that to make a point.

Mahado only watched calmly, sitting in his chair, piece of papyrus parchment in his hand.

"And you left her?" he asked, and guilt ripped through me.

"Yes…" I said slowly.

"You left her distressed. When she needs to be calm to give birth to her child…" he continued.

"What's you're point," I growled, flopping onto the couch, not wanting to hear anymore.

"Atemu, there is something you must learn. Women, are forever a mystery to us men, and more emotionally set. They understand things that we do not, and they think things that we men would think impossible to comprehend. If you're Mwt was upset that you were going to war, then there must be a good reason behind it. Most likely she doesn't want to lose you. You are her first, and she does love you more then life itself."

I grudgingly agreed with Mahado's point.

"From what I think you're trying to tell me is that Mwt doesn't want me to go, because she fears I may die."

"Most likely so."

"But she should be proud! I'm going out there to prove myself to others. To show them that I can be a strong leader, just like I't!"

"War isn't the only answer for that, Atemu, and it's much simpler and much less bloody."

"What?"

"Well for example, you could solve this drought problem of ours. People would think you a hero. And it's much less bloody too."

"But it's not as exciting!"

Mahado became quiet, and I thought he was going to start one of amusing teasing, but instead he set the parchment down and looked at me with serious eyes.

"Listen to me, Atemu. I know that war sounds like a game, especially to boys. I know, I was one once, and when I went to my first war, I was thrilled, excited for blood. Until I reached the field, did I realize the full extent of what war meant. War should never be taken lightly, and it's never "exciting". Only barbarians call it that."

His speech stunned me, and I jumped as the door opened.

"Excuse me, but am I interrupting anything?" came a deep voice.

Mahado's serious expression became soft and friendly again and he turned with a bright smile.

"Enter my friend, you are not interrupting anything."

The door opened further and Priest Karim slipped through, heaving his large muscular body inside, and closed the door quietly behind him. I was a bit surprised to see him here, and he seemed equally surprised to see me. I flashed a smile. Karim may be huge and have work hard muscles that could probably rip anyone's throat out in seconds, but he was the most gentle and most friendly priest out of I't's six. He seemed a bit unsure, but smiled back, sitting upon the coach beside me.

"What were you two discussing, if I may ask," he said bowing his head to me.

"No need to bow," I said, and smiled at his unsure look. "We're friends, Karim, and friends don't need to bow. Look at Mahado, he doesn't bow."

"He doesn't even bow to the Pharaoh," Karim muttered, rolling his eyes and Mahado mock scowled at him.

"I't has been planning to go to war…" I started, and Karim nodded.

"I know. He has asked me to join him."

Mahado frowned, standing up.

"And you agreed?"

"Of course. If his majesty asks, then I shall obey."

Mahado's frown deepened before sighing and sitting back down.

"Who else has he asked yet?"

"His twin brother, Priest Akunadin, and Isis."

"I shall ask if I can go too…"

"He has already decided," Karim sighed. "Pharaoh wants you and Shada to stay here just in case…"

"Just in case what?" Mahado pressed.

"In case we fail. He'll need you two here to protect Kemet."

"And what if this happens?" Mahado whispered, his hands trembling. "And we stay here knowing we could have made a difference but we were stuck here!"

It was Karim's turn to whisper.

"Please don't shout Mahado."

Mahado's shouting ceased, but his hands still trembled. I could feel the tension within the room, and somehow I had become a nonentity. My eyes went from Mahado to Karim, and I could clearly see Karim was weary and Mahado's anger was wearing his energy down even more.

"Shadah protested too…" Karim said quietly, looking down at his clasped hands, his black shoulder length hair falling into his face.

"I don't blame him. No, I shall meet with Shadah and we shall both convince the Pharaoh to let us come."

Karim's head shot up, and I was surprised to see a burning flame within his eyes.

"Then you shall leave Kemet's people to die!" he shouted.

Unconsciously, my body coward at his harsh words. Mahado was just as stunned as I was.

"This will not be an easy battle, the Pharaoh has told us, and we'll need every strategy, every weapon, every monster we have to accomplish our plan."

"If it's so complicated, then why his the Pharaoh planning this war!" Mahado shouted, standing up, and Karim stood up also.

"Mahado, the raiding…they take so many innocent lives. They have killed the Pharaoh's cousin, they have slaughtered countless relatives to Isis…they have taken the life of my older brother."

Mahado's hard face softened, and he reached out a hand towards Karim, who only drew away.

"No, it is done. He is dead. Many of us encourage the war with them, for revenge and for the safety of our people. But they are twice as many as us. We shall give them all we have, but there is a chance that we may fail, and if we do, they shall plunder Kemet. Shadah and you will be left to protect them."

There was a heavy silence, and I huddled closer into the cushion. In truth, I was afraid. Karim was not his usual gentle self, and Mahado…Mahado who I was used to having a teasing grin upon his face, to always be quick tempered with people, even to the Pharaoh himself, now as meek and helpless looking as a small boy. His pleading blue eyes bored into Karim's face, but Karim's eyes were now on the floor. Mahado seemed to reach out to touch him, then stopped and let his hand dropped.

"Alright," he said quietly. "I shall talk to Shadah, and we shall remain behind."

Karim nodded, then turned towards the door and I winced as it closed unusually loud. The room was silent, before Mahado sank back down into his chair, staring at his hands.

"Mahado?"

He jumped and he stared at me, like he did not know who I was, before that familiar grin came upon his face, except forced and tight.

"Atemu, sorry, I forgot you were here for a moment. That's enough for today, you go find Heba," he said and I didn't protest as I headed towards the door, and stepped out onto the hall.

As I closed the door, I could hear the quiet sobs of Mahado, as he buried his face into his arms.

O

"Crying?" Heba said, surprised as he rolled over to face me on his bed. "But Mahado never cries."

"That's what I thought, until know," I muttered, pacing Heba's room.

"But…why was he crying?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know, probably because I't won't let him join."

Heba frowned and turned back onto his back.

"Why would he cry because I't won't let him in the war? That doesn't make any sense! Are you sure it wasn't anything else?"

I pressed my lips together in thought, then sat down upon Heba's bed.

"Well…Karim came in and told him he was going to war…Mahado then insisted he'd go too but then Karim convinced him not too…"

Heba suddenly sat up, with his mouth in a silent "oh" and then smiled, laughing silently to himself.

"So that's it," he murmured.

"What?" I asked, but he only continued to smile at his new discovery. "What!"

"I think Mahado has a little crush," Heba said, chuckling to himself."

"What! Karim and Mahado? That's ridiculous. Their friends, Heba, nothing more."

"How do you know?" Heba pressed.

I had no answer so I merely shrugged. We were silent as I fiddled with my shenti (kilt/skirt) and Heba with a strand of his hair. Then I felt his hand touch my shoulder, and I nearly shuddered at his touch.

"Atemu," he said quietly. "Are you going to war too?"

"Of course!" I said, not looking at him, remembering what happened when Mwt found out. "I'm I't's heir and eldest son, I have the honor in standing beside him."

"Are you scared?"

I snorted.

"Don't be a fool, of course I'm not," I fibbed, but in truth, after what I heard from Mahado and Karim, fear wiggled it's way into me, and it grew ever since.

There was more silence.

"I shall come too."

"No!" I shouted, turning around to face him, then calmed as I saw I had scared him. "No. No, Heba, you stay here. From what I hear, this won't be easy, and if I't and I fall then you shall be alive to take the throne."

His beautiful orbs of amethyst shimmered with fear and he grasped me tightly upon the shoulders.

"Don't say that!" he shouted, and his small body trembled. "Don't say that! I don't want you and I't to leave me! I don't want the throne! I don't want I't to die! I don't want you to die!"

His forehead pressed against my chest.

"Please, say you'll reconsider. Tell I't that you feel you're not ready and shall work hard to prepare for next time…"

Sighing, I shook my head.

"Heba," I said gently. "I had already committed myself. I't expects this of me, everyone expects it of me, and I shall satisfy them."

Heba's body slumped, and I wrapped my arms around him.

"Don't worry Heba," I said quietly. "We will not lose. We shall win, and Kemet shall be safe. Safe for us, for me, and for you."

"How can you be so sure?"

I closed my eyes to think up an answer to reassure him, and then smiled.

"Because…Ra told me so."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mijikai: Not bad for not typing for months, huh? Huh?

Yami: (rolls eyes)

Yugi: There's a war…blood…me getting hurt…huh?

Mijikai: Noooooooooooo!

Yugi: -- (sigh)

Yami: (glares)

Mijikai: Heh…

Sorry for not updating for so long, but since it's Christmas Break…or soon to be…no more high school and a lot of free time! Yay!

REVIEW! Please?.......if I haven't been forgotten….