I'm back bitches! (Sorry for my crude humor.)

So my absence can be explained. I was grounded. Again. No shock there. Go on, ask. "What was it this time?" And the answer to that is: I got my tongue pierced. Which, apparently, is a no-no in my house…

But I'm back. I've got a chapter. (I've actually got a few chapters).

Enjoy!

Harry didn't think that he did anything productive in the days that passed. He hardly left the couch, except for food and natural needs. He either sat or lay there watching the clock on his wrist. Time slowly ticked by with no signs of speeding up.

The sound of the door opening woke him out of his absentmindedness. "Anubis?" His voice sounded weird after not hearing it for two days. "Anubis is that you?"

Anubis came into the room and stared at Harry in his pathetic state. "What're you doing? Are you wearing the same clothes that I left you in?"

Harry nodded weakly. "I couldn't find a reason to change them."

"How about to stay clean? Have you even showered in the two days I was gone?"

Harry just shook his head. Anubis sighed and shook his head slightly. "Go take a shower."

Harry stood and brushed past Anubis and followed the god's order. "Pathetic," he heard the god mumble as he headed down the hall.

"I am not pathetic, I was just unmotivated."

Anubis laughed at his response.

After showering and putting on fresh clothes, Harry followed the delicious scents that filled the house to their source. In the kitchen he saw Anubis making another Egyptian dish. "What are you making?"

"It's called kushari. It's pasta, tomato sauce, rice, lentils, onions, garlic, and chickpeas."

"Sounds weird…"

"It's good. The Egyptians have been eating it for over a hundred years." He put some of the concoction in a bowl and handed it to Harry. "Try it."

Harry tentatively ate a bit of the weird dish. His mouth exploded with flavour. "It's delicious!" He began shoving more and more into his mouth. He didn't care that it was nearly burning his tongue. He just couldn't get enough of it.

Anubis smirked and leaned against the counter. "Told you."

Harry gave Anubis a glare and continued to eat. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Anubis shook his head and declined. Harry shrugged and finished off the bowl. "That was awesome. Is there more?"

Anubis laughed and scooped out some more for Harry. "I assume that you haven't eaten in the days I've been gone."

"Yeah… I didn't leave the couch much."

"Never again will I leave you for a few hours. You turn into a vegetable on me. You could starve."

"Then I'd die."

"No, you ordered me to not kill you while you have possession of my amulet. You'd starve, but you'd live."

Harry thought about that for a minute. "That would suck."

"Yeah it would! You'd be living a virtual hell."

"So how many hearts did you have to weigh while you were gone?"

Anubis thought back for a moment. "Mm, about thirty."

"Thirty! Why so many?"

"Well I've been gone for a while and lots of people died in that time."

"Were any of them kids?"

"Yes. Children die more often that adults."

Harry was immediately depressed. "A lot of people that I know have been dying recently."

"I am sorry for your losses Harry. When it's time for them to die I have to let them die. Death is such a complicated subject. I can't begin to explain it."

"Why a feather?"

"Because the feather represents Ma'at."

"Truth."

Anubis smiled. "You have been paying attention."

Harry smirked and retorted, "Yes, I do tend to do that on occasion. Still, why a feather?"

"If you've lived a truthful and good life then your heart won't be weighed down with the poison of lies."

"So many metaphors..."

Anubis laughed and shook his head. "It makes sense though, doesn't it?"

"A bit." Harry wanted to ask the question that'd been bugging him since this conversation started. "Will my heart be weighed?"

"Only if you still believe in the ancient gods. If you believe in something else then whatever that religion says about the afterlife will happen to you."

"So there are several thousand gods out there?"

Anubis hesitated. "There are some things best left to mystery."

"But you're here in front of me. Wadjet too."

Anubis sighed. "It's tricky to understand. I honestly don't think your mortal mind could handle all that I know about the gods of the universe."

Harry was slightly insulted by Anubis's words. He wasn't an idiot. "What do you mean my mortal mind can't handle it?"

"Don't take any personal offence to it Harry. You're a very smart mortal, it's just that mortals' minds are weaker than gods'. That's why they don't know all of the secrets of the world."

Harry crossed his arms and tried not to look too angry. "Whatever."

Anubis pushed Harry's hands down by his side. "Stop being dramatic Harry. You're not like me so don't pretend that you are. This line between mortals and immortals has been blurred these past few months. I'm sorry about that."

"Is there a way to be like you?"

"Ah... You'd have to be either a Pharaoh or you'd have to become a host for a god. Even then you still won't have all of the privileges of a god."

"That's not fair."

Anubis released Harry's hands. In all honesty, he hadn't realised that the deity still had a hold of him. "The only other thing I can think of is if you were born a god."

"I can't work my way into godhood?"

Anubis laughed. "No. Egyptian gods were born, not created."

Now Harry was pouting. "This isn't fair."

"Why the sudden interest in being a god?"

Harry didn't say a word. It was far too embarrassing.

"Harry?"

He kept his gaze low and didn't make eye-contact.

"Harry, what is it? Just tell me."

"I wanted to be near you forever," he mumbled.

Anubis was silent for a while. "You have my amulet. You told me that I wasn't to let you die while you had it. So long as you keep it then you will be with me forever. Plus, should you bore of me you can always get rid of the amulet. Give it to me, I'll hide it again."

Harry shook his head. "Someone could take it from me. It is pure gold and diamonds. It's worth millions."

Anubis leaned against the counter next to Harry. "You'll keep it safe. I know it."

Harry sighed and walked away. "Yeah..."

Anubis let out the breath that he didn't even realise he was holding after Harry had left. "This is getting out of hand."

Soooo? What'd you think? I'm really starting to love Harubis (I love that ship name). Next chap will be up soon, I promise.

Lots of love your way. Review please! Favourite, share, talk about it to your friends!

-JAFB