Chapter 24: The Pharaoh

Hiei hovered, the last leg of this whole thing was relatively uneventful other than a few weak demons Hiei killed just for existing in my presence. I'm tired. I want to go home. Do I want to go home? Hiei doesn't fit there, I don't want to leave Hiei but I want my tea shop and my morning runs and my stack of pillows to hide in. I want… comfort, I think.

"I think…" I didn't want to tell Hiei I want to go home, he'll take it wrong.

"You feel uneasy." Hiei supplied.

"Yeah… like…" I didn't know how to say it. My head hurt, I winced.

"I'll protect you." He brushed his fingers across my temple.

"I know I just…" my stomach churned, my head hurt. Hiei's touch made it feel better but it was too much.

"Kurama." Hiei, snapped "we should turn around."

"It's fine…" I trail off as the forest opens up to a palace. Like we just walked into another time period. Ancient Egypt, to be specific.

"We can't turn back now." Kurama took the lead "keep Nuni close."

Hiei wrapped an around my shoulder, he rested his other hand on his sword. Ready to kill. He never really needed an excuse to kill but he's even less tolerant with me around.

"Stay with me." He growled. I burrowed into his side. Hiding from the feeling of impending doom. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

We pass under large sculptures and statues, archways, the sand is hot but it feels nice. My hand curls into Hiei's robe. Why do I feel so afraid?

This will be over quickly. Hiei promises.

"Halt!" four men in ancient egyptain garb emerged from the door way. "what is your business here." Hiei's hand tensed on his sword. Kurama stepped forward, hands out "We've answered the Pharaoh's bounty, we've brought Nuni." He waved a hand toward me but didn't move out from in front of me. They peered around and on sight, they dropped to their knees and bowed to me.

"My queen, this way." they climbed back to their feet and led us in. I looked to Hiei.

"What is going on?" I don't know what I expected but it wasn't that.

"Stay alert." He pulled me along with him.

"Nuni." Kurama walked on the other side of me "do you know anything about this?"

"Right, I totally just forgot I was a queen, my bad." I drenched my tone on sarcasm. Kurama's eyes flicker to Hiei for a brief moment, maybe to see if I'm lying.

The men… guards? Led us into a giant room. If I had to guess a throne room.

"Pharaoh." The lead guard called "the queen has arrived."

"Nuni?" that voice…. My spine shivers.

Hiei's hand touchede my back, stopping me from running. I didn't even know I was about to run until I was being stopped. "do you want me to kill him?"

"I…." I looked up at the man, tanned and golden hair. He wore what I imagine a pharaoh would wear.

"Nuni." He opened his arms as he walked toward me, he's smiling. "you're safe."

I don't know what to do… what to feel.

"Kill him or stop him?" Hiei asked, hand on his sword.

"I…" I tried to swallow the fear building up in me and choked on it.

"kill him or stop him." He grabbed my hand.

The man closed in. something in my gut told me no, this is not pharaoh. Another part recognized him but… I couldn't tell if it was bad or good.

Nuni. Hiei's voice in my head was a gentle nudge.

"Stop him." I staggered back as the man closed in. Hiei thrust the hilt end of his sword out and nailed the guy in the gut.

"Pharoah!" the guards rushed forward. Kurama pulled a rose from his hair and slashed it out into a whip.

"Nuni…" the man looked up at me, kneeling on the ground he looked harmless. He looked like the good guys, all golden and wide eyes. He smiled at me. "I suppose that fiend did take your memories."

"wh-what…" fiend was a little dramatic but that makes sense… I knew there was a piece missing. "How do you know me?"

"You were my queen." He keeps his arm wrapped around his midsection.

"Liar." Hiei hissed "you're not in Nuni's memories."

"If you've seen into Nuni's memories." The man tilted his head and smiled weirdly at Hiei. "then you must know who Atem is."

Atem… Atem… why is that name familiar?

"Do you want me to kill him, Nuni?" Hiei met my eyes, I could feel his distrust, his concern.

"I…No." I shook myself "no, I want to know what he knows." I look the Pharaoh in the eye. His eyes are wide, open and inviting. I feel kind of dizzy. "what's your name, and don't say Pharaoh."

He smiled "Marik Ishtar."

My head hurt. The room wouldn't stop swaying.

"Nuni." Hiei wrapped his arms around me, that felt better, safe. I hugged him back, anchoring myself to the only thing that made sense to me.

Hiei

How does he know? I pulled Nuni into my arms, Marik smiled at me.

"so…" he crossed his arms "are you going to tell her or am I?"

Nuni is too preoccupied with memories that were told to stay down rushing to the surface to hear anything outside her own head.

"Why shouldn't I just kill you now?" It would be so easy.

"She asked you not to." Marik smirked. "And you're just like him…

Him… the tri colored hair boy. The one she loved first.

"If she asks it, you'll do it." He waves an arm at the guards. "show them their room." He reached for Nuni. I ram the hilt of my sword into his writs. Pfft, as if I'd let him touch her.

"when she's feeling up to it, I'll have tea made for her in the gardens."

"What makes you think she'll want to stay?" I snarled Kurama nudged me forward with the guards.

"Nuni lacks self-preservation… she'll tell you stay… and you do as she says."

I followed the guards, Kurama kept his whip out. Nuni curled against me. I will keep you safe, Nuni.

Author's Note:

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