Scales of Destiny

Authors' Note: Seventh chapter, I hope you like. I'm aiming for 17 reviews this time since we're only at 12. Get me up there and I'll update again. Love all you lovely commentors.

Story Summary: The Millennium Scales have been passed from Shadi to another worthy of holding them. But as soon as she receives the mysterious Scales, she starts having bizarre dreams about things that happened thousands of years ago. Each dream ends with the same soothing voice and calming face. Can she meet this mysterious stranger in Domino City?

Chapter Summary: The day after Shizuku and Atem's meeting in the park and Tea's consistent prodding about what she was doing in the park she went to bed and had an interesting dream…

Chapter Seven

Mausoleum of the Queen

Shizuku shifted quietly in her sleep, a smile creeping into existence on her face from dreams about the previous afternoon.

The Scales hummed merrily, mocking her attitude, on the mantel of her bed.

:-:

"Where am I?" Shizuku thought wearily. "This doesn't feel like a dream…but I'm myself, so it's not a memory or a vision. So…where am I?"

She walked farther into the dark cavern she had awakened in. She saw murals on the wall that could only be Egyptian artwork. The musty dust-laced air that filled her lungs told her this could only be some sort of tomb. The question now, wasn't where she was, but more like whose tomb she was in.

Her feet seemed to lead her to an unknown room seemingly in the heart of everything. It had to be the burial chamber, but why was she here, what was she supposed to see?

In the room sat the traditional sarcophagus, which seemed a little more elaborate than most meaning she was very important, and several candle fixtures other than that the room was bare. All her possessions must have been in the previous room.

Shizuku shivered at the cold and all-enveloping darkness. A candle suddenly flickered to life, then another, and another, until they were all ablaze.

Now being able to see her surrounding she saw the hieroglyphs covering walls and sarcophagus alike. Curiously, she tip-toed to the mass of gold and jewels and traced the markings with her fingers. To her amazement she could read them:

' Here our paths divide, but we shall soon meet again. '

As if her words were an incantation the flames grew immensely larger and chilled wind shot through the room. A bright flash resonated from the sarcophagus and blinded Shizuku momentarily. When she opened her eyes, a familiar face stood in front of her.

Looking into the eyes of her former self she suddenly knew why she was here, almost telepathically.

"Oh my child," Zuka said dreamily. She stepped from the glowing aura of the candles and became solid. She took Shizuku in her embrace and held her firmly but gently. "I have waited so long for someone to come here. So long for someone to recover the Scales. I could sense you, not to long ago, when you first came to them. I could see my dear Atem through your eyes. Strutting about the world wear clothes of your age like a teenager. Like he was a part of the world. Tell me. How has it occurred?" They separated, Zuka looking into her eyes, curiously.

"He isn't of our world. He shares a body with Yugi Motou. The only thing similar about them is their hairstyle, violet eyes, and stubbornness. They are almost opposites."

"Then if Atem's reincarnation exists, why is he there?" She pondered before asking, "This Yugi, do you love him like I love Atem?"

"No!" Shizuku flushed slightly at how loud she had actually yelled "No, I do not love him. Quite frankly, I do not have any feelings beyond friendship for him."

"Then, possibly, destiny fated Atem, and only Atem, not his reincarnations, to love me…us." She fidgeted with the wedding band on her finger "Tell me this now, do you love Atem?"

Shizuku thought for awhile before coming up with an answer she was sure of. "Yes, I do."

"I've been watching you Shizuku, ever since the scales started to hum at your birth. It is humorous how like me you are. Had you been alive in Egypt with me; we could have been twins down to the tiniest traits of our personalities.

"Now, come here," She continued. Walking over to the sarcophagus she opened a compartment hidden inside the belly. She took out a feather, one of the purest white.

"The Feather of Ma'at!" Shizuku exclaimed

"Yes, I assume it is troublesome to have the one we love in the same body of another, is it not?"

"Yes,"

"Then come here. Don't be scared, I don't bite dear." She held out her hand till Shizuku took it. Now I will show you a memory of mine. I learned how to do something long ago, something that might come in handy. Close your eyes…and watch…"

The vision was clear, she could she Zuka, the Scales, the Feather, and a restrained prisoner. It showed Zuka placing the Feather on one side of the scales and a piece of bloody clothing from the prisoner on the other. Zuka proceeded with the procedure and after talking a flash emanated from the prisoner and another being stood beside him. The prisoner collapsed and the guards swiftly slaughtered the being that had materialized.

"In that case we were getting an evil spirit out of someone. But, I figure It'll work all the same in this case."

"What were you saying to him?"

"Ah yes, I asked him questions about what he had done, any possible crimes. Atem will answer them all truthfully, I know he will, and this will cause the feather to become heavier releasing his soul from Yugi Motou and creating a body from his memories."

"Are you sure it will work?" Shizuku said skeptically as she received the Feather.

"It's the only way I know how." Zuka whispered solemnly. "Oh, wait, I have some more things for you." She scurried to a chest and opened it. From inside she took out a beautiful silk dress inlaid with gold, two golden silk slippers, jewelry, a crown, a blanket, and a more relaxed looking dress from the previous one along with a pair of white silk slippers. She took off her cloak she wore and put it in along with her wedding ring before replacing the items and closing the lid and locking it.

"You're giving me all this?" Shizuku gasped.

"Yes, it is yours now; I prepared it the night I was killed for whoever would be my next life." She smiled a sweet smile and handed over the necklace which bore the key to the chest. "Here, it is truly yours now. My memories are with you, I have nothing left to hold on to. Please tell Atem I was able to pass on peacefully and assured this night."

Zuka took Shizuku's head in her hands and kissed her forehead. "Goodbye child." She burst into a golden glow and disappeared into the sky.

"And now I have to get out of here…" She said, clutching the chest. "I wish I back in my bed now." She imagined her bed at Tea's house in her mind, and closed her eyes.

:-:

Afraid to open her eyes in fear she wasn't actually awake. Cracking her lids slightly, she noticed she was back. Feeling the weight on her stomach she remembered the chest she had received and placed it by her beside before checking the clock. 5:45 a.m. Though an hour from her usual time of waking she got up feeling strangely refreshed.

After getting ready for school (for some reason she didn't even resent the uniform as much) she sat back on her bed and rummaged through the chest till she found Zuka's wedding band and placed it in an envelope after neatly drawing the hieroglyphs for Atem's name on it. She planned to deliver it when he was gone to Joey's today after school.

Shizuku leaned back against the headboard and waited for the rest of the city to wake up and join her. Today seemed like it would be a very good day.