Disclaimer: I don't own Yuugi-Ou. I just make Shizuka look good.

A/N: This takes place some time before the Egypt Arch saga. I imagine around half a year before. Again, I hope any anti-Semitism is seen as proving a point that is not anti-Semitic.

For images of Serq and his ka, go here: http/www,deviantart,com/view/31171743/ (Just replace the commas with periods.)

Mock Forms

Chapter III: The Accusations

Serq was assigned a room on the far end of the palace to work from. Priest Set had set it up for him as so he could have a proper home in the city. The priest had taken it upon himself to look after Serq. He treated him much as an older brother would. This didn't bother Serq at all. He was adaptable, it was the way he was.

The room itself was not large; however, neither was the young architect. It was almost the same size as the tent he had worked in for his last position. The tent had, however, been more barbaric. His last job had been for a king of a group of nomadic peoples. They lived in tents and were almost constantly on the move. He had been employed to draw up battle plans for relaying. Not work Serq liked but it had paid well enough.

His current room was on the west end of the palace. It was a square room. The door was in the right corner. On the left side was Serq's bed and a desk. The desk was littered with sketches, quills and papyrus. He sat in a small chair diagonal to the desk. If you followed the wall from the desk, a bag sat in the corner overflowing with more sketches.

Serq was, at that moment, sitting in the chair trying to think of some proper designs for the tomb. It was that moment that the door swung open. Standing in the opening were two priests: Shada and Mahado. Both did not seem to be in the best of moods. Serq cocked his head to the side for a moment. He didn't usually see the priests, outside of Set that is, and he couldn't understand what they could want especially so angry.

"Serqmaaker, you have been accused of..." Shada said calmly.

"Of attempted murderཀ" Mahado interrupted.

"Whatཀ?" Serq didn't have time to recover. The priest, Mahado, had grabbed Serq by the arm and had begun to drag him down the hall of the palace. "What are you saying? Murder? I didn'tཀ"

"You attempted to murder a young artisan class citizen yesterday afternoonཀ"

Serq looked at the priest dumbfounded. "I... where is Set?"

"Priest Set will not be attending the trial." Shada said in the same calm voice as he followed closely behind. "You will be tried by the Sennen priests, Mahado, myself and Akunadin, and the Pharaoh.

"I'm innocentཀ I'm an architect. I would never murder."

"A likely story." Mahado said irritated.

"Why would I murder? This is the greatest position in my fieldཀ Why would I risk itཀ? I have no motivationཀ" Serq said as he was finally pushed into the trial room.

The room was small with several chairs lined before Serq. In the center of the chairs sat Atem glaring at Serq with utmost disgust. Serq was shackled and positioned in the center of the room. Afterwards, the two priests took their places on either side of the pharaoh. Serq panted with anxiety. He didn't see a way out of this or how he could possibly be tried for anything.

"Serqmaaker, you are being tried for the attempted murder of an artisan and a young Egyptian woman. You have been tried with illegal dueling. You have also been charged with damage of property. Serqmaaker, you are considered guilty until you can be proven innocent. Your sentence is pending as of this moment." Akunadin read dryly from a papyrus.

"Do you understand your crime?" Atem said leaning forward slightly.

Serq took a deep breath but before he could reply the door swung open. A very angry Priest Set stormed in. The priestess Isis stood in the doorway looking bewildered. "He insisted my lord Pharaoh." The priestess said weakly.

Atem groaned. He was hoping to avoid this but it was unwise to tell Isis in the first place.

"THIS IS OUTRAGEOUSཀ If you were out to have my architect fired, you should have addressed meཀཀ Not have him charged for murderཀཀ The idea is..."

Atem hushed him. "This is not a political trial. It is a domestic crime case. The architect is being charged with attempted murder, damage to a slave and engaging in Ka duelling outside of the priesthood."

"Ka duelinglཀ?ཀ" Set looked mortified. "The boy does not know how to conduct a Ka duelཀ"

"He seemed interested at the temple." Akunadin chimed in.

"Interested. He is from a primitive desert peoples. He was in awe of us. That doesn't mean he can conduct a Ka duelཀ He does not even have a sennen itemཀ He can't ka duelཀ"

Serq stood silently. "I was interested in the monsters. I had never seen them before."

Atem looked unconvinced. "The reports describe the Ka. Akunadin read the report aloud."

Akunadin nodded. "Yes Pharaoh, 'the beast was a great snake gold in color with two wings'"

Atem thought to himself. "I believe that if we release his ka and it is the Kaiser Dragon. He is guilty. If not, he is innocent. Do you agree to these terms, Set?"

"This is foolishness but I agree. His Ka will not be the dragon so go ahead." Set said still fuming.

Shada raised the Sennen Ankh before the boy and revealed his ka. Serq moaned in pain as a form took shape. The beast hovered over his master. It was not a dragon. It was a dog, a jackal to be precise. The creature was adorn with jewelry like his master and funerary tags were tied to his tail. The creature had a crazed look in his eyes; however, he was not the Kaiser dragon.

Serq began to recover and forced himself up.

"Your Ka, Serqmaaker, is a symbol of death. He is a jackal. Can you explain yourself?"

Set was about to chime in but Serq spoke first. "He is not a jackal, my Pharaoh. We were a desert people. My Ka is a hound, a desert hound. He is not a sign of death but life. He is a guard and hunter, my king. He is a symbol of loyalty."

Atem eyed the Ka again. "Serqmaaker has been found innocent to this case. In the meantime, we have a killer on the loose with the power to summon Ka's."

Serq sighed and Set unchained him. Serq could tell that Set was revealed; eventhough, he didn't show it. Serq knew the trial had been almost as hard on Set as it was on him. Nevertheless, he was glad it was over.

Safiya looked over at Habib. They both had managed to get Jono back to their home the other day. Habib hadn't said a word since then and it was beginning to worry Safiya. She looked over at her brother. He was still passed out from yesterday and hadn't shown any sign of waking up. Safiya was worried. "Habib..." Safiya walked over to him and shook his shoulder. "Habib, what should we do? Habib?"

Habib turned to look at her. "Not now, Safiya."

Safiya looked over at her brother then back at Habib. "But Habib..." She sighed then walked so she was facing him. "Habib, Jono needs a priest. He's hurt."

"We can't go to a priest, Safiya. We're in hiding."

"Then we can go to a Hebrew priest. You said they live in the city. You said, you know where they were."

"You can't take an Egyptian to a rabbiཀ"

Safiya stepped back. He surprised her. Habib usually didn't act this way. She shook it off. Her brother was in danger. "He can soཀ Hebrews go to the priests all the timeཀ Why can't an Egyptian go to a Hebrew priestཀ?ཀ"

"You don't think I'd take him if I couldཀ" Habib shouted at her. "No rabbi would see himཀ Its hardly legal for them to practice in Egypt."

Safiya looked stunned. She really hadn't considered the strife between the two people or the severity of their situation. "Habib, what should we do?"

Habib rubbed his forehead. "I need some time to think."

Safiya looked at him pitifully. "Alright." Safiya snuffled to herself and walked outside holding her stomach. She sat down outside of the house by the doorway. She pulled her knees up to her chest with her arms around them.

"What's the matter?"

Safiya looked up half in tears. "Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Safiya wiped her face. The Thief King was crouched down, about two feet away from her, looking her in the eyes. He seemed very curious and in some way concerned. "M-my brother st-still h-hasn't w-woken up. H-he..." That was about how far she got before she burst into tears.

Thief King had noticed a pattern in his interactions with the girl. She cried a lot around him when he tried to be nice. Unabated, he continued to stare her in the eyes.

Her crying settled a little when she looked at him, more by the way he was staring at her. He hadn't stopped staring the entire time. The only difference was a slight tilt of his head from one side to the other. But he still stared. She couldn't quite figure why. "Thank you for yesterday."

Thief King snapped back slightly. He was not used to being thanked. "Right. It was... nothing."

"King, what are you doing here?"

"I was taking a walk." Thief King said a little nervously. He didn't like talking with her. "I hear you and the... who does live with you?"

Safiya looked at him surprised. "My brother and... Habib."

"Habibཀ?" Thief King looked shocked. "A Hebrewཀ You live with a hebrew?"

"Yes." Safiya looked confused. "Habib has lived with my brother before I moved in."

"How did your brother get a deal like that?" Thief King said with a grin. He was enjoying himself.

"Deal?" Safiya was growing increasingly more confused. "They're friends."

Thief King's grin faded. The revelation came almost instantly. He realized that Habib was not a family slave. "He's...but...he's a hebrewཀ"

"He's a friendཀ" Safiya stood up so that she was now taller than Thief King and glared down at him. Thief King looked up the way a child looked up at his mother. "And what does it matter if he is! He's my friend and my brother's!"

Thief King was surprised to be lectured. He hadn't been lectured while sober since he was a child. He recovered quickly and stood up. She came up to his chin at best making him tower over her. He didn't say anything, just stared.

She was nervous for a moment. His eyes were not a comforting sight. She shrugged it off though and looked up at him. "He's a friend." She said firmly.

"Fine... I can't imagine why..." Safiya glared at him. "But whatever."

Safiya looked at him for a moment then forgave him. She thought to herself for a moment. "King, can I ask you something?"

Thief King looked at her suspiciously at first then folded his arms. "What do you want?"

"You know a lot about what is going on, right?"

"Yes." Thief King seemed surprised it was such a simple request. "Diabound can go places most can't."

"Diabound?"

"My ka." Thief King saw her confused look. He sighed. "It's a guardian spirit beast. Everyone has one. Your brother's and the Hebrew's came out yesterday. That was a ka duel." Thief King looked over at Safiya. The fact didn't seem to be settling her. So he changed the subject. "Your brother's attack went to trial."

"What?" Habib had just bursted through the door. He hadn't been listening before but it was hard for him to miss. "What did you say!"

Thief King had already begun to back away. He didn't like being approached so unscripted. Safiya was significantly less intimidating than Habib not to mention she adored him. So, he was just about ready to run off.

Habib wasn't going to have it. The moment Thief King took off, so did Habib leaving Safiya confused. Before she knew what was going on, Habib had Thief King's arm pulled behind his back as Thief King thrashed to get away. "What did you say?"

"I said they held a trial. Not that its your business, Hebrew." Thief King said as he wiggled out of a headlock. "I was telling her," Thief King pointed at Safiya. "that her brother's accident was taken to trial."

"A trial?" Habib looked almost worried.

"None of your business, Hebrew." Thief King said smirking.

Habib was almost livid at this point. Safiya wasn't the happiest, either. She spoke before Habib had the chance. "Leave Habib alone, King!"

Thief King's grin faded. He obviously had lost favor with the girl. He hadn't begun to think that what she was saying before was true. Many Egyptians said one thing and did another. He thought he had been free to mortify the Hebrew.

"The trial took place this morning. It tried the architect, a foreigner from the deserts."

Habib looked irritated but less angry. "So, all we can do is wait."

"Won't this draw attention to us?" Safiya asked Habib concerned.

"No." Thief King saidwith a smirk. "They never check on anyone afterwards." Thief King looked over at Habib. "And Hebrew, I said the trial was this morning. Its already over."

Habib looked interested. "What are they going to do with the architect?"

"Nothing. One of the priests pulled some strings and he got off. I'm not surprised in this country." Thief King was going to continue but he saw something in Habib's eyes. He looked like he had been punched in the stomach.

"Habib?" Safiya said concerned.

"How could he get off?" Habib said quietly.

"Priests." Thief King said calmly. He assumed that it was an open conversation. That and he wasn't one to hold his tongue. "Most of the higher ups aren't actually persecuted in trials. Besides, the Priest of the Rod likes him." Thief King paused looking at Habib. "Is he listening?"

"I can't believe this." Habib said under his breath and before Safiya or Thief King could realize what was going on he was gone.

Atem had not been particularly happy with the outcome of the trial. He had a bad feeling about Serq; however, he wasn't judging on feelings but on evidence and the evidence was with Serq. He hadn't attacked them but still. Atem leaned up against the wall of the palace halls and whistled to himself. It was a rare joy to have nothing to do and no business to attend to. It was unfortunate that it was being interrupted with his fears from the trial.

Shimon walked down the hall silently. He looked up to see the young Pharaoh leaning against the corridor wall. He looked to be lost in thought. "The trial was not unsuccessful?"

"He was not convicted."

"It is not the courts duty to always convict; regardless of what Shada may say."

"I have a feeling about that boy."

"Your first meeting did not go well, no?"

Atem thought back. It hadn't. "You remember correctly."

"Perhaps, the Pharaoh simply does not trust him from the meeting." Shimon looked out the open glass less windows in front of them. "Did the evidence support him?"

"It did."

"He is not guilty, then."

Atem groaned to himself. Shimon's wisdom was simple but correct. He was innocent at this point whether he committed the crime or not.

"Feelings can be dangerous things. They mislead and can blind even the wisest. You must listen to logic."

"He had a jackal for a ka."

Shimon turned to Atem slightly. "Well, that does not vouch well for his character." Shimon turned back to the window. "But if everyone was tried based on character, thieves would run free and merchants would to executed. Actions are tried, not the hearts. The gods will do that for us."

Suddenly, they heard yelling from below. Atem and Shimon scurried to the edge of the balcony to see what was going on. A man appeared to be dodging and fighting the guards. He looked up and saw Atem. "You let that bas..." The guard had come up behind him and managed to restrain him.

It was no time at all before Atem was on his throne and the rioter was standing before him. The guards had tied the rebels hands behind his back. He looked furious and hurt. Atem couldn't imagine why he had done this. The priests were at Atem's sides and appeared almost as furious as the prisoner.

"What are you doing here, Hebrew!" Akunadin yelled. He was probably the most rattled of all of them by the event. "What could you possibly want in the palace! What could you possibly be thinking!"

Isis was calmer. "Give me your name and work corps?"

The prisoner looked even more furious but tried to answer calmly. "Habib. Work Corps of Sekhmet to Bubastis. May I speak now?"

Atem did not understand the significance of the answer. The priests seemed to though. Mahado was the one who spoke. "That corps was transferred away from this city years ago." Mahado looked over at the others. "He's an illegal slave! That doesn't happen! Does it?"

The other priests, especially Akunadin, looked mortified. "This can't be! We have never lost a slave! Not in the history of the dynasty."

"Are you sure that is your work corps?" Isis asked nervously. She turned quickly to the other priests. "There is a 'Sekhmet of Luxor' that is still stationed. Could he have mistaken the corps?"

Habib didn't budge. He has stationed to Sekhmet of Bubastis. It had had over 50 member and there had been one other Habib, he was the elder. "No."

Isis looked worried. "Do we send him to his station?"

Kalim folded his arms and shook his head. "We can't. He all ready escaped. If we put him in with the rest, who knows how many will be loose like this by next year. We could have hundreds of illegal slaves loose. Most people can't tell if a Hebrew is in its post or not, or if it's a private slave." Kalim looked over at Atem. "We'll have to imprison him."

"He's at working age." Set said dryly. "If half the slaves were in his shape, we'd have twice the palaces."

"He'll rebel though, he's useless now!"

"Anyone can be persuaded." Set said stroking his Sennen rod.

Isis shot Set a nasty look. Then looked over at Atem. "He is to go on trial."

"What!"Akunadin, Set and Kalim said in unison. "That would suggest citizenship!"

The priests continued to argue the subject. In the meantime, Habib was fuming. He was stuck in the Egyptian beaucracy being argued over as Jono was back to the house still injured. He wanted justice. He hadn't felt this way before. Of course, there had been injustice. He was a slave. It was a given but this was unbearable. They hadn't done anything to deserve this. They had just tried to live decently. He was tired of it. He was tired of being silent and polite and hoping that it would all work out. "Will all of you shut up!"

The priest froze turning to look at Habib. They were stunned.

"Well you're arguing over what to do with me, the country is falling apart!" Habib was furious but had a new sense of confidence and assertion. "People are starving and living in the streets! Thieves are everywhere! My friend was almost killed the other day and the murderer got off!"

"How do you do you know anything about that!" Akunadin said indignantly. "That was a closed trial!"

"Who cares how I know! He got off and my friend is dying! He's a murderer!"

"He was found innocent and we don't owe any explanation to you, slave!" Priest Set said pointing his rod.

Habib yanked myself forward as the guards tried to restrain him. "He got off because he lives in the palace!"

"That's enough!"

"The thieves aren't because of the people either, they're there because they have nowhere to go!"

"Shut up!"

"And NOW, YOU LET PEOPLE DIE AND THEIR MURDERERS RUN FREE! YOUR COUNTRY IS A..." It wasn't until then that the guards has finally managed to restrain Habib and gagged him. He was still yelling but it was muffled by the gag.

Set looked outraged. "This is treason! I wouldn't be surprised if he murdered the craftsman to get in here and pull this stunt." Set turned to Atem. "I suggested that he's tried as a murderer and a traitor! He's a rebel and has no place in society!"

Atem looked at Set then at the Habib who was half frenzied. He had no choice but to agree with Set.

End for chapter 3. I love reviews so say what you think.