NOTE: This vision is out of order. It did happen but it's not shown in the correct order with other visions. Just in case you got confused later

Dance of Swords

Seto Kaiba sat at his desk brooding. His butler had gone so far as to say you could practically see the dark clouds hovering over the young master's head though of course saying it only when he was out of Kaiba's hearing distance. The fact that not even Mokuba could stir a smile was of some concern and members of staff were starting to envision the household returning to what it had been years ago. That was definitely not an appealing thought at all. Kaiba was aware of what was being said but he simply pushed it away to amuse him later as he sat at his large desk and contemplated things. Rika would be arriving in a little over an hour which kept a large amount of his staff away from him as he'd ordered the house even more spotless than usual and had personally overseen the dinner menu which had ruffled his cook since Kaiba never set foot in the kitchen, ever. Which really was what was bothering him. He was taking time out of his busy schedule to go to lengths to impress someone and not just anyone, but a girl at that. He wouldn't even do this for his business associates, people who tossed millions or dollars his way every year. He hardly ever allowed any of them in his home and when they did they ate what he wanted, when he wanted and they left when he said so. Women were suppose to bend over backwards for him, not the other way around. Yet here he was, ignoring his paperwork, driving his staff to the brisk of insanity over a girl with a temper and strength to match his own. That was a scary thought.

"Master Kaiba." Came a voice from the doorway and Kaiba looked over to see his butler standing there, practically hiding in the doorway. Had he really been that wretched this morning, Kaiba wondered, torn between amusement and worry. He didn't like to think Rika had this much control over him. Calling out in as nice a tone as he could manage Seto inquired as to what it was. "Sir we just received a call from Ms. Nonaka sir. Apparently her uncle isn't feeling well so she'll be an hour late. She felt she needed to stay with him until her aunt could come and take over." The servant said in response, hoping that Master Kaiba wouldn't bite his head off.

"That's fine, if that's all you can go." Kaiba said and hearing the door slam shut took that as the answer. Dammit, now he was stuck brooding even longer because she wouldn't be coming on time to shake him out of it.

Tired of just sitting there and getting edgy he decided to take the hour or so he had left to work off some of his frustration in the gym. Heading down Kaiba changed into black slacks and opting not to wear a shirt he went over to the punching bag, taking a few practice swings before laying into it, putting his whole body into every punch. Doing that for five minutes straight Kaiba decided to give that a rest since he needed to be able to breath normally when Rika got there since she affected his ability to breath just by being in the room with him. Not sure what to do next Kaiba wandered over to the opposite wall where he kept his sword collection. He'd always intended to learn more about the use of the weapons, the sword being a real weapon in comparison to a gun or bomb. It took skill and strength, strategy and grace to use a sword, not something you could just pick up and use. Eyes catching on one he'd had custom made for him Seto deactivated the security around his collection and opening it up with his voice print took out the sword that bore the head of a blue eyes dragon on its hilt. Locking things up again he walked onto the mat he'd had installed and made a few practice swings in the air. Hmm, interesting, Seto thought as he frowned slightly, stopping as he stared down at the sword. Having a sword in his hand felt surprisingly comfortable and right yet he'd never actually picked up a sword with the intent to use it in a long time. Even then it hadn't been a knowledgeable hand that had held the blade. Yet it was as if the hand that held this sword was a knowledgeable one which made no sense. Well there was only one way to find out, now wasn't there? Letting his body do the guiding Seto found himself moving on the mat with the grace and skill of a warrior, the blade shining in the light as it moved with him like an extension of his arm. It was incredible. Closing his eyes Seto simply moved as his body demanded, unaware of time or of place, only of himself and the blade in his hand. Coming to a stop when he heard faint clapping Seto slowly opened his eyes and stared at the vision walking towards him.

"Not bad, High Priest Seto. At least not bad for a priest." Ri said with a laugh and Seto could feel shivers run down his spine at the sound. Taking in his surroundings he could hear the surf, feel the sand under his feet and see the full moon overhead to add extra light to the torches already lit and placed around the area. "So if I might ask why are you out here practicing at this time of night? Surely you are not so busy during the day that you can't take an hour out of it to practice in daylight. Your form isn't that bad that you need practice in secret." Ri added with amusement in every syllable.

"I might ask you the same thing. This is no place for a princess to be alone in daylight, much less at night." Seto replied before Seto even knew he was going to speak. It was as if his body were no longer his own and he was simply in the audience, watching this play out even though he watched from inside one of the players. "There are all manner of dark things that come out at night, you would be a tasty treat."

"Thankfully I do not answer to you, High Priest so I can come here when I choose. As to why I'm out here I suppose I am doing it to spite Rameses even though he shall never know of it however petty and small that might sound. He thinks to control my actions now that my brother is not among us here but I will not be ordered or forbade simply for his amusement." Ri explained and Seto didn't have to be close to know her violet eyes would be flashing. "And what is your excuse, High Priest? Or did your sister foretell that I would be here and so you felt the driving need to come for a late night practice?" Ri asked coyly as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"No, she didn't but I shall have to scold her for not warning me that my path would cross yours this evening." Seto responded with a faint grin, feeling better and rejuvenated at a chance to verbally cross swords with her. He loved to argue but since most people were afraid of him he rarely got the opportunity. "And silently taunting Rameses is not worth risking your lovely neck, your majesty. You would do well to return to your rooms and get your beauty sleep."

So you think I am in need of beauty sleep, High Priest?" Was Ri's quick resort, neatly sidestepping the mentioning of the foolishness of her actions in sneaking out of the palace, especially without guards to protect her even though she carried a dagger. "Is that why you shy away from me whenever you see me coming? Am I so hideous that you cannot bear the sight of me?" Ri added as she moved closer so that she was no more then a meter away, fluttering her eyelashes at him flirtingly. "One would think looking at your reflection daily would have made you immune to terrifying sights."

Unable to hold back a chuckle Seto had to mentally applaud her for her smart remarks even when their cutting edge was aimed at him. "You're tongue is as sharp as my blade and twice as painful I think. Now I still have an hour or so before I must return to my chambers. As fond as I am with sparring with you I came out here for another reason entirely."

"Then shall we spar with blades instead? I see you brought more then one blade with you, perhaps you will permit me to borrow it and allow you to hone your skills on an actual living being and not the poor air?" Ri asked as she rocked back on her heels slightly as she sent him a look that was half dare and half innocent sweetness. Obviously she wanted to spar with him but didn't want to look overly eager in case he said no just to spite her. Nodding his head Seto motioned to the blade and watching the smile that split her features Seto could feel his heart rate spike against his chest. Keeping her in his sight he watched her pick up the other blade, test it out before taking off her sandals and walking over to stand in front of him with about a meter between them. Bowing to each other the two began trading practice blows before putting their skills and physical prowess into it so that the air was alive with the sounds of breathing getting heavier and metal meeting metal. He'd originally intended to go easy on her but it soon became apparent that going easy on her was going to get him injured. Not only was she an extreme skilled fighter but the few times he'd let her get the upper hand she'd sent him a look that could kill and tried that much harder. In other words this was not a friendly game at all. But then they were both fiercely competitive people and Seto had no doubt she had a lot of anger to work out since the princess was not a happy princess at all since the pharaoh had left for his trip. Rameses was driving her nuts and Seto was rather surprised the ass hadn't woken up to find his little sister had dropped asps into his bed. Thank the Gods Pharaoh Yami had taken Freya with him otherwise he was sure the head of the pharaoh's harem would have killed Rameses by now since Freya hated Rameses even more then Ri did.

Turning his attention back to the fight since it really did require all of his concentration not to be skewered on his own blade Seto was impressed at her skill even though he had known and seen her fight before. Then again it was different when you were actually fighting the person knowing your own limitations and seeing how you compared to your opponent. Trading blow after blow, going from defense to offense from blow to blow with neither gaining the upper hand or showing signs of stopping. Seto moved backwards to avoid a swing then was about to charge when he watched her lower her blade to her side and called for a time out. "What is it?" Seto demanded to know, lowering his own blade as he watched her balance on one foot, obviously trying to get a look at her left foot.

"My foot..something sliced into it..damn it hurts." Ri said with a peeved off voice and Seto watched her sit down and try to pull her foot up close enough to see without much success. Seeing blood sliding down her foot in the flickering flames Seto moved closer and dropped down to his knees, gently grasping her ankle as he pulled her foot over to see while Ri sent him an I can take care of myself look. Holding it close Seto pushed away the panic that bubbled up at the sight of her blood and looking beyond that saw that she'd quite thoroughly sliced her foot on something. "I would just have to find the sharpest rock on the beach wearing no footwear and far away from the palace." Ri said in disgust as he studied it, trying to ignore the feeling of his fingers gently touching her sensitive skin.

"Stay where you are." Seto ordered and walking over picked up the sack that contained several items including the length of cloth he occasionally used as a blindfold when he wished to practice fighting without the ease of his sight to guide him. Walking back over Seto took her foot and setting it on his knee wiped at the wound and after making sure there was nothing in the wound wrapped her foot up in the cloth and laying her foot back on the ground surprised her when he got to his feet and held out a hand to help her up. Getting up Ri winced but with the cloth as a buffer it didn't hurt as bad as it had. Sighing because he knew he couldn't let her walk back to her chambers on that foot Seto moved forward and picked her up in his arms, resigned to picking his stuff up later after he'd delivered her into Latoya's hands.

"I can walk, Priest and you know it will be your head if anyone sees you carrying me." Ri pointed out as she wiggled in his arms which made Seto hold her that much tighter against him, his arms holding her still like bands of steel. ""Rameses is already looking for an excuse to have you killed you know. This would be one of those things that would do it."

"Worried about my neck, Princess? I'm humbled that you would care so much." Seto said with a grin and smirked down at her, pleased when she glared up at him which made him strange indeed. "And I don't think helping you is a beheading offense though I could see Rameses implementing such a law. I believe however that your father would be a little more understanding."

"Hmm, but I could make it into something that would get your head removed from your neck, High Priest." Ri said in a purr that had Seto's head going decidedly light as his heartbeat picked up under her head as she trailed a finger down his chest, deliberately teasing him for reasons Seto had yet to figure out. He knew she was attracted to him since she'd told him point blank but teasing them both with what couldn't be made no sense to his logical mind. Then again it was hard to think when she was around unfortunately. "It would be no hardship on either part I can assure you."

"What thoughts are going through your twisted little mind?" Seto said as he did his best to ignore everything she made him think and feel when she touched and looked at him the way she was now. "Trying to get my head chopped off?"

"Well it would certainly solve my problem of constantly wanting to drag you into a dark corner for the pleasure of devouring you " Ri replied sassily as she nuzzled her face against his neck as Seto continued to walk, Ri knowing she was safe in his strong arms. "But no, I wouldn't want your head separated from your neck, my priest. I like your head, however hard and thick it may be, exactly where it is. Were they to try to remove it I would most certainly intervene. I would...even be willing to beg Rameses to spare your beautiful neck though you wouldn't likely believe that. I don't quite understand it myself."

Feeling as though he'd just had a pyramid block dropped on his head Seto stared at her in pure shock. She, who would rather sleep with asps and scorpions then be in the same room as her half brother, would actual lower herself to begging for him. That she would do that, would be willing to essentially humiliate herself before Rameses for him caused a feeling not unlike falling down a dark tunnel and suddenly realizing that you were falling into light instead of more darkness. "And should they ever attempt to remove your head I would do my best to save you." Seto replied in a husky voice, his throat tight with unknown feelings and emotions. "Though I doubt you'd need my help rescuing yourself."

"Well that goes without saying." Ri said with a laugh as her right hand came up to cup the back of his neck, pulling his head down as she moved her own up to meet him. Letting her pull him into the kiss Seto was amazed that it was exactly how it had been when he kissed Rika, the feelings, the heat and passion behind something so simple. They even felt the same in his arms.

The sound of his name being called gradually broke through their consciousness and they broke away to plainly hear the sound of someone yelling for the high priest in a voice edged with panic. Her chest heaving and her breathing heavy Ri looked up at him with lips bruised from his kisses. "Sounds serious, put me down." Putting her down out of reflex since one generally did what your princess told you to do Seto watched her use his shoulder for support then placing a kiss on his shoulder began walking away towards the palace gardens and unable to call her back for fear of being overheard Seto cursed under his breath then called out to their interruption thinking if it wasn't important the messenger was going to rue this day. Seeing that it was one of his priests Seto walked forward to meet him, closing his eyes for a moment to rub his temples at the headache brewing in preparation of what was likely to be a lecture on being out here so late alone by the elderly priest.

"Kaiba? Seto, are you okay? Headache?" Rika asked in concern as she came towards him at a fast walk. She'd gotten there earlier then expected and Mokuba had taken her to the gym where his brother was before running off like a rabbit near a fox's den. She'd come in to see him walking towards her with a less then pleased look on his face then suddenly he'd stopped and now with closed eyes was massaging his temples. "Seto?"

Blinking Seto opened his eyes to look into a familiar pair of violet eyes only now instead of meeting in the night on a sandy beach they were in the gym in his home, in his time. "'This has got to stop." Kaiba muttered bad temperedly as rubbed his hands over his face. One minute everything was normal and the next he was in ancient Egypt lusting after a princess and wanting to kill the bastard Rameses, either of them possibly existing in his past life. Then there were Rika's ties to it and he just didn't need this kind of complications in his life right now.

"You've been getting bad headaches? Have you seen a doctor?" Rika asked as she placed hands on his shoulders, the skin rather hot to the touch but he'd been working out so that didn't mean anything. "Do you need to sit down?"

"What I need and what I'll get are two very different things. For now I'll settle for you kissing it better temporarily." Seto said as he pulled her into his arms for a kiss. Oh yeah, one huge complication after another but this particular one he wouldn't give up for the world