Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! any of the characters, ideas, games, and so on and so forth…or Egypt for that matter. I do however own a computer and a driving permit! And now for your reading pleasure…the story!

Seto leaned back in his chair and smiled. He knew he wouldn't be getting any work done, especially knowing that Seraph was playing with Rasui right outside his window. He had already witnessed the growing bond between pet and owner and he felt pride that he had been the one to bring her such happiness. He longed to bring her fulfillment in every way but knew he would have to bide his time. Throwing down his quill, he sighed in disgust. Pharaoh had already questioned him on his inability to concentrate. He needed to get his work done, at least to allay suspicion. "Dammit!" he cursed savagely, sending the servant girl scurrying from the room. He dropped his face into his hands and rubbed his eyes. He had to see her. Just for a second…

Meanwhile in Seraph's room:

Dakar leaned back and studied the three boys in front of him. They were younger than he was and considered him the leader of their group. He loved the adoring looksa they gave him. It made him feel so much more mature and older than his sixteen summers. He often made up stories just to tell them so he would not fail in their eyes.

"So what happened, Dakar?" the youngest one, a boy of twelve asked.

"Well we kissed."

Dakar's announcement was met with collective gasps.

"But she's in the circle," said another.

"I don't believe you Dakar."

Dakar glared at the boy who had spoken. Only a year younger than he was, the boy was getting too smart.

"Oh yeah! I did kiss her but-" Dakar thought quickly, "That's not all that happened."

He leaned close and whispered something to the group.

Seto walked toward the garden. He decided to take the shortcut and pass by her room. Turning the corner he heard Dakar yell "Oh yeah, I did kiss her!" Seto stopped outside Seraph's door, rage tightening in his chest. He had better not be talking about Seraph. Seto walked as close to the doorway as he dared. He saw Dakar's face go red and watched him lean in and whisper something to the other three boys.

"You're lying!" said one of the boys.

Dakar smiled, "Maybe I am. What does it matter? I know what happened. And it was great."

The other boys were looking at Dakar with new respect.

"You didn't even have to force her?" the youngest whispered in awe.

"Force her? Ha! She was begging me to give her fulfillment."

"Wow Dakar. She actually begged? I didn't think Lady Seraphic was that kind of woman."

Dakar suddenly frowned. "What kind of woman? Seraph is a kind and loyal, not to mention beautiful girl. She is not easy or evil for having given herself to me." He began to regret ever telling the three. They seemed to have the total wrong idea.

"Seems it's a little late to defend her honor when you have already besmirched it," said a voice behind him.

The three boy's eyes widened and all color drained from their faces. Dakar turned around and froze at the sight he was witnessing. Lord Seto was leaning casually in the doorway with his arms crossed. Dakar had no idea how long he had been there or how much he head overheard. HE stared at the bored expression on his face but saw his eyes were dark and his jaw clenched in anger. He was holding back his wrath. Inside, Dakar was scared stiff. He had seen Seto get angry before and it was not a pretty sight.

"Lord Seto…I…can I help you?"

Seto casually walked into the room. "Since you are obviously having a little gossip session, why don't you let me tell you some gossip of my own. How's that? Does anyone object?"

No one answered.

Seto nodded. "Good. I have heard it told that slaves that touch their masters, or in this case mistresses, don't tend to live very long." Seto smiled. "But it would seem that if you speak the truth, Dakar, I have no choice but to take you to the Pharaoh. In all fairness I would need to call witnesses to attest to what I say. What say you, you three forget this little gossip session and you may leave? Or you could come with me to tell the Pharaoh. Of course then he will know you were gossiping about his staff and I don't think he would like that very much, do you?"

It didn't take long for the three boys to decide. They quickly got to their feet and left the room without another word.

When Seto was alone with Dakar he got up and slammed the door.

"Now," Seto said his voice vicious, "You and I are going to have a little talk with the Pharaoh. But first there is something that I have been wanting to do for a very long time. It gave me great pleasure last time and I am almost positive it will again."

Dakar looked confused and never saw Seto move. The next thing he knew, Seto's fist had slammed into his face. Dakar crumpled, his nose throbbing. Blood pured onto the floor in a steady stream.

"Now that we've dispensed with the niceties, let's get one thing straight. You are a slave and Seraphic is your mistress. She is not yours. She is mine."

Dakar struggled, but finally managed to get to his feet. He ripped off a piece of his tunic and held it to his nose to stem the bleeding. "She's never been with you."

Seto smiled. "True, but that doesn't make her any less mine. And when you're gone, she will be mine in every way."

"That's against the law! I could tell Pharaoh!"

Seto laughed. "Do you really believe he's going to believe a slave over his trusted friend and High Priest? I didn't think so," he said when Dakar's face fell.

"Now come along slave. We have an appointment to keep.

Seto grabbed Dakar's arm and pulled him over to the door. "If you ever, ever, ever, say anything about Seraphic again, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Dakar hurried along behind Seto, desperately trying to form some kind of plan. He could not admit that he had lied with Seto in the room. It would only cause problems and then his friends would see him for what he really was. No, he must not allow Seto to be present when he came before Pharaoh. He would ask for a private audience. Then he would explain to Pharaoh that he was only trying to impress his friends. Pharaoh wouldn't kill him for boasting…. would he?

Seraph smiled at Rasui, as she playfully batted the herbs in the garden. She laughed as Rasui sniffed the flower and sneezed. She shook her head and curled up in Seraph's lap. Seraph sighed not wanting to go back inside just yet. She wanted to lay out in the sun and feel its warmth on her skin. Seraph began to feel a warmth spread through her body that reminded her of Seto's kisses. She shook her head to stop the direction of her thoughts. Sighing she picked up the kitten, who yawned and curled up in her arms, and walked back into the palace.

Bakura stretched and looked around. He felt the sand begin to lift and blow onto his skin. Sighing he moved closer to the fire as he knew it would get very cold in a little while. His horse whinnied and tossed his head to shake the sand out of his eyes.

"Easy." Bakura said calming the stallion. He began to pat the stallion's flank and saw a glint catch the corner of his eye. He looked around to see what it was and finally realized it was the Ring. Her Ring. The Millennium Ring that Aura had entrusted to him and his last remaining thing of her. Ra, he missed her. More than he knew he should. He should forget about her but he couldn't. He wondered if she had gotten his letter. If she had she would be waiting for him to come back. He shook his head determined to stop thinking about her but it was futile. He found himself remembering the way she smiled and even glared at him. He remembered her in the throes of passion and even when she used to snuggle up to him in the middle of the night. He finally decided that he couldn't bear it any more. He had to see her. He just needed…her.

Aura sighed and glanced at the "ring". She was trying to decide if one could tell it was fake or not by just looking at it. Unfortunately she couldn't see much of a difference but she wasn't sure if it would fool Yami. Ra, if Yami wasn't fooled she would be forced to explain what had happened to her Ring. And she didn't have time to make up a plausible or even halfway believable story. Aura sighed. "Well I guess it will have to work," she muttered.

"What will have to do, milady?" Kebi asked coming into the room.

Aura smiled down at the little boy. "How do I look Kebi?"

Kebi looked confused. "Beautiful as always, milady."

Aura smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thank you. Why don't you go play in the garden with Kiya."

The little boy tried to contain his excitement, "Really? You don't need anything milady?"

Aura bit back a smile at his eager expression. "No I don't need anything. Go have fun. Just be back for dinner."

"Yes milady." Kebi hurried out of the room forgetting to bow in his haste to find his friend.

Aura smoothed her skirts and hurried to see the Pharaoh.

Seto continued to drag Dakar around the palace, carefully avoiding the hall where he knew Seraph would come in from the garden. He finally stopped in front of Yami's study. Taking a deep breath to calm him down, he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Yami called out.

Seto glared at Dakar. "This is it, slave. Are you ready?"

Dakar glared back. "Yes, Lord Seto. As a matter of fact I am."

Seto grabbed the back of his shirt, flung open the door and threw him inside.

Yami looked up from his desk, his eyes widening in surprise when the slave came flying into the room.

Seto stalked into the room and closed the door behind him. "I'm very sorry to disrupt you, my Lord. I seem to have come across a small problem that requires your attention."

Yami nodded. "Well then, what is going on?"

"This slave has touched his mistress."

Yami's eyes widened. He looked at Dakar. "What is your name?"

"Dakar," he mumbled.

Seto slapped him in the face. "You will bow and address the Pharaoh formally!"

Yami held up his hand. "That's quite enough Seto. Now I will ask you again. What is your name?"

Dakar stood up straight but kept his eyes on the floor as was the custom. Bowing he said, "My name is Dakar, my Lord."

"Aren't you Seraphic's slave?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"And are the allegations true? Did you touch your mistress?"

Dakar stood there for a long while not saying a word. "My Pharaoh, I know that I have no right to ask, but I would beg of you to grant me a private conference without Lord Seto in the room."

Seto shook his head. "No."

Yami considered his request and then said, "Anything you have to say should be said in front of the one who brings the accusation against you. Seto, how did he touch Seraphic?"

"He was boasting to his friends about her…in bed." Seto said.

Yami's eyebrows shot up. "Is this true?"

Dakar knew that Pharaoh would know if he was lying so he simply nodded.

"Answer the Pharaoh." Seto said.

"Yes, my Lord."

Yami went into a rage. He began to pace the room all the while muttering to himself. Finally he stopped in front of Dakar and struck him in the face. "Do you realize what you have done?" Yami hissed at him. "You have not only disobeyed my law but you have also ruined Lady Seraphic's reputation. She will not be able to hold her head up because of you. Now I will ask you this and Ra help you if you lie. Did you touch your mistress in any way that would classify as going against the law?"

Dakar thought about it for a second. He couldn't tell Pharaoh that he had never bedded her with Seto in the room. He finally realized that he would not be lying because he had kissed her. At least he had started to before Seto had interrupted. She was beginning to get into the kiss too. Dakar had felt her raise her arms, no doubt to put them around his neck.

"Answer me slave!" Yami hissed.

"Yes, my Lord. I have." Dakar said staring right into his eyes.

Yami's roar of rage outdid anything Seto had ever heard before. The next thing he knew Dakar was on the floor writhing in pain holding his nose and trying to stop the bleeding.

Yami calmly rubbed his knuckles and walked over to the door.

Dakar wouldn't be defeated though. He stood up and yelled, "Lord Seto is going to have her. He told me that once I was gone, she would be his in every way!"

Dakrar's words stopped Yami in his tracks. He turned around and stared at Seto waiting for an explanation.

"I was simply a mind game, my Pharaoh. Would I ever break your law?"

Yami nodded, satisfied. Then he opened the door and yelled for the guards. When they came Yami waved his hand. "Take him to the dungeons. He will be executed at sunrise."

Dakar fell to the floor as reality hit him in the face like a brick wall. He was going to die, and all for a stupid lie. Well he wouldn't let it happen. He would let Seraph know, somehow. She would save him. She had to. After all she loved him.

Seraph hurried down the hallway trying to get to her room. Rasui rode high on her shoulder, her intelligent mind evident in the way she studied her surrounding, taking everything in. Seraph heard voices coming from Pharaoh's study and decided to take the long way to her room. Rasui had other ideas. She jumped down from Seraph's shoulder and ran right in front of the study. Seraph was about to go after her when the door opened and Yami bellowed for the guards. Seraph quickly moved behind the corner and watched the scene unfold. To her horror, Dakar was pulled outside by the guards. Seraph saw Yami step out and Seto came out right behind him.

Dakar saw Rasui out of the corner of his eye and knew Seraph must be nearby. He inwardly smiled as the perfect plan formed in his mind. "Tell Lady Seraphic I said goodbye. I will miss her. You know what, I'll tell her myself." To Yami's horror, Dakar began to shout. "Lady Seraphic! Lady Seraphic! Good bye! I'll see you when you too cross over into the afterlife."

"That's enough!" raged Yami. "Get him out of here! Take him to the dungeons where he will await execution!"

Seraph's mind was reeling with everything she had heard. Dakar was being taken to the dungeons. He would be killed in the morning. But why? What had he done to warrant such a punishment. The only way she was going to find out was to go see him and find out for herself. Rasui purred and began to rub against her legs, bringing Seraph out of her thoughts. Scooping up Rasui she hurried to her room to prepare. It was going to be a long night.

Yoru: *maniacal laughter* yes i ended with a ....CLIFFHANGER!!! ^_^ i love holding the power. now you must check back just to find out hwat happens...mwahahahaha