Disclaimer: I do not own Red River manga.

A/N: Here it is! Enjoy!

Yuri

"Hadi, what's that?" I asked. Out in the distance, there was an uproar of sand.

"Oh, it must be a sandstorm. Unless we are expecting visitors…?" she replied, unsure.

"Maybe. Perhaps Prince Kail knows something about this." I ran to get him. When I find him, he pulled me closer with his hand pressing the small of my back.

"Yes?" He inquired.

"I think there are visitors coming this way. There's a cloud of sand in the distance, and the sand storms aren't usually this close to town." I told him. He nodded, eyebrows furrowed in deep thinking.

"If it gets any closer, let me know." He said.

"Okay." I replied, but I still wasn't too sure. With all of the fighting for territory, it could be anything coming for us.

Bastet

Sahara skidded to a stop, and I laughed as Horus tried to catch up with me, and the oxen trotted along at their own speed.

"Yes!" I said, out of breath. "We made it in seven days by only stopping six times!" Normally, several stops are taken in a day, and that makes the trip longer. Sahara neighed at me, and I could tell she was very annoyed. I rubbed her neck and reassured her. "Don't worry, Sahara, the Hittites are sure to have plenty of water, and all the food you could eat!" I swung off of her and took the reins, pulling her to the gates of Hattusa. I could see the guards' grips on their spears tighten as they saw me approach, but I acted as if I noticed no such thing, absentmindedly petting Sahara's nose.

"What is your purpose here?" they asked, obviously wary of the Egyptian behind me, trying to catch his breath.

"We have an audience with the Prince." I said, feigning pride. "We're to be his new musicians."

"Really." One said sarcastically. He didn't believe us.

"I have tablets sent from the Prince himself, if you would like proof." I offered, and got them out of the messenger bag I carried. The other examined them and grunted.

"Fine. You'll need an escort." So, they opened the gate, and the first guard took us all the way to the palace Prince Kail stayed in. When we first got there, there was a girl about my age, a small boyish one, with pale skin and jet black hair. She was surrounded by three other girls who looked to be related, seeing as two of them were twins. I couldn't tell if the girl was a servant or not, so I decided not to do anything. She looked at me, with understanding, and came up to greet us, hand out.

"Hello." She smiled. "I'm Yuri." I took her hand, and shook it.

"I'm Bastet. The Prince had requested us to come as musicians." I started. "But I believe it has turned into a much more…political reason. So, I'd like to request an audience with him." She nodded.

"I'll go get him, then." She said, and walked into the palace. "Follow me." A man came up to us, offering to take our horses to the stables, and we followed the girl in.

"So," she began, obviously trying to make conversation. "How far along are you?" she asked. I looked down and laughed.

"Wow, is it that noticeable? I'm only fifteen weeks." Her eyes widened.

"You look to be five months, at least!" she exclaimed. "Incredible." she muttered to herself before stopping in front of me.

"Prince Kail?" she called, hanging on the doorway and peering into a room. "You have visitors."

"Tell them to wait in the main room." I heard a voice respond. Yuri turned back to us and led us to a room with several sitting areas and one big, regal looking throne.

"Please, sit." She instructed, taking a seat herself. To make her feel more comfortable, I did so.

"You are the prince's concubine, right?" I asked. She nodded. "So you are the one known to be Ishtar?" I asked, remembering the stories I had heard. She nodded again. I felt my stomach sink as I asked another question. "Are you from this country?" she shook her head, and my stomach fluttered.

"I'm from a country called Japan. No one knows where it is, though." She said sadly. I gasped, and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Is something wrong?" I composed myself and started smiling.

"I'm from a country no one knows about as well—America." Her eyes widened.

"You're from the present." She whispered. I nodded, and she jumped up, giving me a huge hug. "I thought I was the only one!"

"Let me guess—evil sorceress brought you here?"

"Queen Nakia. She's been trying to sacrifice me so she can kill all the princes. You?"

"Queen Dowager Nefertiti. She brought me to Egypt so I can seduce Ramses. Her plan backfired, and she's been trying to kill me." I shrugged, thinking what can you do?

"Will you be going back soon?" she asked. I shook my head and answered quickly; I had come to terms with not being able to go back.

"I can't. I was brought from the sand, and it moves around all the time—." But at that moment, Prince Kail had entered.

I got down to my knees and put my forehead to the floor.

"Your Grace," I greeted. "I have come to request an audience with you, as a friend, not a foe."

"Go on." I heard.

"I come to Hattusa representing the Egyptian goddess, Bastet. I am in a situation similar to Yuri Ishtar's, and it may not be as consequential to the Hittite people, but I give all my favor, as Bastet, to the Hittite's." the room fell silent.

"How would I know if you aren't lying? You could just be coming to spy for Egypt." He said, skeptically.

"Egypt was the place that took away my parents and my loved ones. I have no love for that country. I pledge my loyalty to you on the life of my unborn child." I replied, trying to convince him. No one spoke for a while.

"You may stand." Prince Kail finally said. I looked up to find him standing right in front of me. He reached out a hand and I took it, pulling myself up from the ground.

"I fully support your movement Prince Kail; I have heard stories of how you want the empires to be at peace, and I respect that with all my heart." I concluded, hoping he'd notice the sincerity in my voice.

Many may have thought I was lying; that's what I had originally come to do. But, a question came to my mind the day I left Ramses: What has Egypt done for me? Absolutely nothing. It's separated me, it's abandoned me, and it's broken my heart. There's no reason for me to be tied to that country, and if there was a Bastet, I could give favor to Egypt—or abandon it, as it had done me so many times.

"I accept your help." Prince Kail replied. "In fact, you'll be of use to us in the war."

"War?" he laughed.

"Surely you didn't come here uninformed? We are going to war with Mitanni." I gasped.

"Against the Dark Prince? This will be some plan you have to consider winning." He smiled.

"Even better. We must do this in 10 months."

I smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Prince. But, is there a reason for such a pressing date?"

"I'm going back to my country." Yuri said quietly. There was tension between the two of them on this subject, I could tell. "I'd like to see the victory before I leave."

"Bastet must be very tired," the older girl interrupted. with the cold smile in her eyes, I could tell she didn't trust me. "I'll show her and her husband to one of the spare rooms. Ryui and Shala can unpack."

She didn't want them telling anything else. I registered this before bursting out laughing.

"Me and Horus? No! We aren't married!" I exclaimed.

"Then what of the father of your child?" Prince Kail asked.

Uh-oh.

I looked down at my feet. "User Ramses."

The room went silent once again.

"He would send his woman and his child to spy?" he asked quietly.

"No!" I pleaded for them to believe me. "I hate him. I'm not giving any kind of information to Egypt." Prince Kail still looked unconvinced.

"Take her to a holding area for now." he commanded. Guards came on both sides of me.

"Wait!" Yuri shouted. "Let her stay with me."

Prince Kail

"What?" I shouted. There was no way I would let this spy stay with Yuri.

"Listen," Yuri started. "she's from the same place as me! I trust her for that. She's obviously been through what I have and more."

"She's pregnant with the Egyptian general's child." I replied, teeth gritted. "She's not to be trusted."

"I'm telling the truth!" The girl shouted. "Please!"

"See? I trust her. Let me deal with the consequences if I'm wrong." I saw the look of determination on her face. Even I knew when to retreat.

"Fine. But your room will be on guard while she's here and being screened." I replied, only to her. "Guards, search their things." the girl, Bastet, looked like she could care less. "And search

her." the carelessness faded off of her face as a guard started patting her down.

"This is violating as a woman." she growled. I almost laughed, but said nothing.

"What's this?" a guard asked, patting her thigh. she ripped his hand away, and with a reluctant expression, lifted the hem of her dress to expose her thigh-and a dagger strapped on. She took it out, flipped it around so the handle was facing the guard, and extended it to him.

This was going to be interesting.

A/N: PLEASE review! I've been getting fewer and fewer and it's making me feel like this is futile :(. So review so it doesn't feel like I'm the only one reading it!