"The Speech of Isis: Isis saith-
'I have come to be a protector unto thee.
I make thee to live like a god.
Thine enemies have fallen under thy feet.
I have made thy word to be true, and thou art mighty before the gods.'
…The blood of Isis, the spells of Isis, the magical powers of Isis,
shall make this great one strong,
and shall be an amulet of protection."
- The Book of the Dead

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9
The Power of Isis
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"What?" Tohru squeaked. "Me? I can't lead you! I don't know where I'm going, Kyou-kun…" Her protests trailed off as Kyou looked at her steadily.

"Yes you do," he said softly, unwillingly. "Isis knows." He took a deep breath.

"She can find her way to Osiris," Harakhte added. "And where he is, there Seth will be as well."

"There is no time for talking," Momiji said urgently. His eyes were fixed on Apep, crouched across the river with a sneer spread across his face. "Go, quickly. There, the passage to the right."

Kyou nodded, and ushered Tohru in front of him toward the opening in the rock where the river left the cavern.

"Yes, go quickly," Apep called after them mockingly. "And beware, Horus." His eyes glinted. "Beware when you face Seth. When you enter his presence, take nothing with you that you fear to lose."

Kyou narrowed his eyes, but hurried Tohru after Harakhte into the tunnel.

"Kyou!" Momiji called, and Kyou paused. "Thoth says to be aware of the powers of Isis. She can help you!" He broke off as Apep moved and all of his attention was drawn to his opponent. Kyou nodded, though Momiji wasn't watching anymore, and disappeared into the tunnel.

Apep grinned at Momiji. "Little one, you are nothing. You think Thoth's whispering makes you strong? You think you have a hope to stand before me? You think you could slow me if I intended to pass you?"

"No." Momiji's voice was soft, but firm. "You said you might get bored," he said, his voice gaining strength as he smiled broadly. "I thought I would entertain you."

"Oh?" Apep's expression was skeptical, but he settled down, in front of where Momiji stood in the middle of the tunnel which Kyou and the others had taken, with an expression of amusement on his face. "Proceed."

Momiji took a deep breath.

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Tohru ran for what felt like a very long time, until at last, when the river Lethe lay far behind then, twisting silently down a side passage,and they were completely surrounded by darkness, Harakhte released her hand and allowed her to stop moving forward and pause to pant for breath.

"Tohru?" It was Kyou's voice, behind her and she answered him gladly.

"I'm alright Kyou-kun. Are you…?" He "feh-ed" at her in answer, but now that Apep was no longer near, Harakhte risked a light. It shown, weakly, from the palm of his hand, but the pure sunlight, no matter how feeble, was like a jolt of energy to Kyou as it brushed over him. He breathed in deeply, then grimaced, his hand going automatically to his side. "Kyou-kun?" Tohru said, worriedly.

"I'm fine," he said, but when he tried to move forward Harakhte put out a hand to stop him.

"You are not. Apep hurt you."

"Whatever," Kyou said and tried to push past him. "It's not important. We should keep moving."

"Not important?" Harakhte frowned, then punched Kyou in the side. Tohru cried out. Kyou gasped in pain, and fell to his knees, his face going a few shades whiter in the dimness of the passage. "It is important if you cannot even take a hit. Seth will eat you without even lifting a finger."

Kyou glared at him, but Tohru knelt beside him, forestalling any of the angry words he was about to speak.

"Be still," she said, her voice deep and otherworldly. Kyou looked at her worriedly.

"Tohru?" he said, pleading with her. She looked up at him, her eyes distant and her expression serene. He stifled a cry and turned away from her.

"Kyou-kun?" she asked suddenly, concernedly. He looked back at her- she was Tohru again, worried, confused, her eyes wide with her almost perpetual wonder.

"Tohru," he said, softly.

She smiled at him anxiously and blushed slightly. "I was, um, talking to Isis-sama and she said that I can help you feel better."

Kyou recalled Momiji's last shouted words. He looked at her deeply; he didn't want to loose Tohru to this. More than anything, he didn't want to lose Tohru to this… but Harakhte was right. "Alright," he said softly, nodding at her. He shifted his position, folding his legs under him and leaning back against the wall.

Tohru was nervous as she raised one hand and placed it gently against Kyou's side. Closing her eyes, she could see how his skin was bruised and how the bone and muscle under it were damaged, all painted before her in bright colors. The areas that needed her attention seemed brighter, and she frowned in concentration as she did what Isis told her. A power she didn't really understand seemed to flow out of her; it frightened her a little, but if it could help Kyou she couldn't protest Isis too much. The whisper of Isis grew louder in her mind as she worked, but never threatened to overwhelm her. Isis seemed very sad, and while Tohru empathized with the goddess' pain she couldn't let her own pain and fear paralyze her- there were people who needed her. Kyou needed her and Yuki needed her, wherever he was, and Shigure and Momiji and everyone…

They… need me?

"Yes," Tohru said. Kyou looked at her oddly, and Tohru realized she had spoken out loud. She rewound the conversation in her mind and realized it was Isis who had spoken to her, not her own fears. Yes, they need me. Tohru blinked as those words suddenly sunk in. They need me to be strong. Well, that was slightly different, but even more true, she thought, and Isis seemed to mull those words over.

You are correct, little one. I… I became lost in my grief. Tohru thought she felt a wind that smelled like flowers ripple through her hair. But I am a queen, no matter what happens. I should not forget the people who look to me.

"Tohru?"

She blinked and looked at Kyou. His face was worried. She realized she had finished healing his side and that she was just sitting there, lost in thought as she talked to Isis. "I'm sorry," she said, smiling at him brightly. "Isis-sama needed some encouragement. She is very sad."

Kyou shook his head and, reaching up gently, took Tohru's face in his hands and leaned his forehead against hers. She merely stared at him, wide-eyed, as he sighed deeply. "Tohru," he whispered, his breath ghosting over her lips. "Just… be careful. I… I can't lose you." He tilted his head back so that he could look her in the eyes. Their lips were inches apart when he released her suddenly and stood, walking abruptly into the darkness.

Tohru blinked again, trying to assimilate what had just happened. Isis giggled, a surprisingly young and girlish sound especially for one who only moments before had been deep in mourning. He likes you, the goddess murmured in Tohru's ear, like any school girl discussing a crush. Tohru blinked again. Kyou-kun? She blushed and, standing, stumbled after him in the darkness.

At first Harakhte brought up the rear, but soon he and Kyou switched places and Hara lead with his light, glowing softly. Tohru stayed in the middle, her head hanging down, her hair in her face trying to hide her blush. Kyou-kun? she thought again, and Isis giggled.

Harakhte swore, and Tohru looked up inadvertently. The passage before them split into two separate passageways. He turned and looked at Tohru. Kyou looked her too, and Tohru could only glance between the two different roads confusedly. Which way could be the right one?

It is neither.

Tohru blinked in surprise. "Neither. Neither way is the right way."

"What?" Kyou looked at her, confused.

She walked forward and placed her hands on the rock directly opposite from the way they had come. "Here. The path is here, Kyou-kun."

Kyou walked forward to place a hand on the wall of stones separating them from the needed path and, shoving against it experimentally, swore as well. "It'll take forever to get through this."

It is no obstruction. Not to one of my power. Tohru shivered.

"It is no obstruction," she said, her voice strong. "Not to one of my power." Kyou turned toward her as if stung by her words, and she smiled at him, telling him not to worry.

A knife…

"Hara-san," Tohru said, looking at him. "Could I borrow your knife?" He nodded, holding the weapon out to her, hilt first. "Thank-you."

Blood…

Calmly, Tohru put the edge of the knife to her skin and cut across her palm.

"Tohru!" Kyou leapt to her side and grabbed the knife away from her, but she only closed her palm, squeezing the wound so that her blood fell onto the floor of the cave.

Come to me…

She closed her eyes. "Come to me," she said, her voice deepening as she intoned the words in the ancient language of the gods. "I call you, in the name of Osiris. Come to me." Her eyes flew open and she blinked as she looked around her.

Harakhte was wrestling with Kyou, trying to prevent him from touching Tohru. "Leave her, idiot! She's in the middle of a spell. Break her concentration now and she may never come back to you- not as she was." Kyou snarled at him and hit him viciously in the face before turning away and pressing his clenched fists against the wall of rock that barred their way.

"Kyou-kun?" she said, quietly. He whirled around, coming to her side so quickly she almost didn't see him move. He tore a strip of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it tenderly around her hand. "Thank-you Kyou-kun," she said. She touched his face and he looked up at her. "I'm okay… Kyou." She smiled, shyly. "I'm okay." He turned his head, her fingers trailing over his cheek, and pressed his lips against the palm of her hand.

It was then Kyou head what was probably his least favorite sound in the world.

A mouse squeaked, near Tohru's foot. She looked down. Kyou looked down as well, torn between a desire to rend the little creature limb from limb and a hope that filled him that it was a particular damned rat, and he really was alright. But there was no recognition in those beady little eyes, and the brown furred, black eyed creature that crawled into the hand Tohru lowered was not Yuki.

"You came," she said, her voice deeper again- Isis' voice. Glancing around, Kyou noticed more of the rodents scurrying across the floor. Tohru held the creature up in front of the wall of stones. "We require passage through here." The rodent squeaked, as if in affirmation, and scurried to join its brethren. Kyou snorted; what the hell good was this supposed to do? Isis smiled at him- a sly, knowing smile that would never have graced Tohru's face- and said, "You will be surprised at what they accomplish. They obey me, out of courtesy to my lord, when I call in his name."

Kyou flinched at her words. Her lord… He turned away, arms folded across his chest.

It was only a couple of minutes later that a rumbling sound filled the small passage. Kyou glanced over at the barrier, only to see that it had crumpled in the middle. The rodents, rats and mice, hurried about moving stones from the top of the pile, as they had undermined it from the bottom earlier. Working swiftly, and in great numbers, it wasn't long before they had cleared a space large enough for the trio to walk through.

Harakhte lead them through into the new passageway, followed by Tohru and Kyou talking up the rear. The rats clustered around Tohru squeaking at her as if speaking to her, and then they melted back into the crevices in the rock as quickly as they had appeared. "They go to Osiris," she said, her voice sad.

"As should we," Harakhte said, speaking up. He wanted to get the group moving again before Isis or Kyou- yes, he had seen the way the cat looked at Tohru- started wallowing in grief. But they both looked at him and nodded.

Tohru shook her head, and Isis left her, almost palpably. She smiled at Kyou and took his hand. He held her hand as if it was the last lifeline connecting a drowning man to the shore, and followed her as she lead them through the passage.

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