Sirenshipping (Priest Set x Yami no Marik)

An alarm sounded in Set's mind as the Millennium Rod in his hand started to glow. He could feel the tug of ancient magics tightening around him, and he tried to call out, to warn the pharaoh standing beside him –

But this was not an attack on the pharaoh, he suddenly realized. This was the Millennium Rod itself calling out to him, bidding him to come along into the magic to see what it would have of him...

He closed his eyes against the light, and when he opened them again, he was shocked at the sight that surrounded him.

He stood on a large, raised platform in the center of a wide, silvery structure. The horizon spread out all around him in far away shades of blue...was that the sea? How had he gotten to the sea? It was some days travel to the north. And what was he standing on? Some kind of...tower? But it was made of material he had never seen before...where was he?

"Who are you?" a harsh, grating voice demanded.

Set tensed, tightening his fingers around the Millennium Rod as he turned to face this unknown entity.

He was frightening to look upon. His skin was as tanned as Set's own, but his eyes were a flat, emotionless violet that suggested possession. Spikes of unruly platinum blond hair wavered in the wind, and his dark half-grin informed Set immediately of this man's intentions.

"I might ask you the same question," he said. "How did you come to bring me here? For I'm quite certain you did."

"How should I know?" the dark figure said, shrugging. "The Millennium Items do what they want, sometimes."

The Millennium Items? What was he saying? All the Items were in the control of the guardians...

His thoughts trailed away as the hint of sunlight through clouds glinted across gold. This man held the Millennium Rod.

Set's eyes flashed down to his own Millennium Rod, and, to his relief, found it still there.

"You have the Millennium Rod," Set said slowly. "How is this so?"

The man blinked, the smile falling from his face for a moment. His flat violet eyes wandered to Set's Rod, and then to his own.

"Fascinating," he said, the smile returning. "Very fascinating."

Set's knuckles turned white with the strength of his grip. With his free hand, he began making signs of power behind his back. Just in case.

"So, I ask the Rod to show me what it showed the pharaoh, and you appear," the man said, almost to himself. "You look just like Seto. Interesting."

Seto? The name sounded so much like his own. He almost stopping mid-sign in the shock – but luckily, he did not. Not finishing a sign of magic was a terrible mistake to make.

Those violet eyes flicked to Set again.

"So, you must be the original owner of the Rod," he said. "This is fascinating. Are you really here, or are you a vision?"

He seemed to ponder the question for a moment. Then, almost absently, he drew the knife from within the Millennium Rod. Set tensed. He was glad for the magic wards he had set up.

"Only one way to find out if you're real," the man said. "Let's see if you bleed."

Set thrust his free hand forward.

"Hes!"

The word of power ripped through the air. The figure froze mid-motion. His eyes flashed with surprise and anger.

"You won't be moving," Set said. "I have seen to that."

How could someone of this nature ever be chosen by the Millennium Rod? It was inconceivable! But, no matter, he had frozen the offender for now. He simply had to find out how to get back...

The man ripped free of the spell with a wordless shout, and was flinging himself at Set before Set could react. Set fell out of the way, starting to weave a new spell. But the man spun around quickly. The knife whistled through the air. A thin cut opened on Set's cheek.

"Kheper fen!"

As the figure tried to stab at him, his fingers loosened suddenly. The spell took hold quickly – the man's knees went out next until he was nothing more than a limp noodle on the ground. But then white-hot magic flared from the Millennium Rod. It bashed against Set's mind, causing him to fall backwards.

He didn't think. He reacted.

His own Millennium Rod warmed under his fingers. Gold magic wove around him and tightened. The two magics, identical in form, rushed each other.

They had only barely touched each other when the world exploded.

Everything went white and silent. It was as though the explosion happened in a state of non-being. When Set opened his eyes again, a familiar set of concerned red eyes looked up at him.

"Set?" Atem said. "Are you all right?"

The Rod was still warm in Set's fingers. The cut on his cheek, however, was gone.

"Yes," he said slowly. "I'm fine."

A/N: This was an interesting pairing to try and work with...considering they never meet. Ever. Next is Sinkshipping (Atem x Amane). Geez, another time crossing one...