Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

AN: Thanks to Leyshla Gisel and anyone following along (sorry it's been awhile). I'm hoping a few more people will stumble onto this story and enjoy it as I do so love writing about the era. And of course adding the Bleach characters is an honor and delight. But it is what it is and I'm having fun so all in all good stuff!

Seducing Setesh

Chapter 2

The boy took a deep heady breath of harbor air. Sand, sea, and heat, the scent was fresh and familiar, comforting. The Syrian Desert did not smell like this. For a long moment the feeling of being home swept the young man up in an uplifting embrace. But the docks of Alexandria were no place to reminisce- especially when on assignment. And this- this among the many that had come into play in the past few months- was undeniably important, not to mention urgent.

He tugged slightly at the heavy robes, better suited to a Bedouin nomad than a guard on a sensitive mission for the queen. But a disguise was necessary and he blended into the throng on the teeming docks, pushing past sailors, merchants, and travelers of all races.

Distracted momentarily by the sight of Seireteian soldiers ahead, standing guard with watchful eyes, the boy stopped. The chatter of many diverse tongues seemed to fall away as he recalled the last time he had seen men in Domino Kuchiki's regalia.

"Come, come, we've a long way before the palace, lad." A cheerful voice encouraged behind him. He grimaced but cast a glance behind him at the smiling man cloaked in emerald green garb and a matching turban. For all purposes he looked like a merchant, down to the glinting gold rings on his fingers. Behind him were two men hefting a priceless rug between them on their shoulders. And behind them stood another, similarly appareled as the boy was in a white tunic and sirwal tucked into brown boots, a head cloth that wrapped around and concealed the lower half of the face. The other surveyed the dock slowly, seemingly caught up in nostalgia as much as the boy had been.

But if no one else the merchant was on task, waving his fan as though directing them forward, "Come all! We've no time to dawdle! Our gift must be presented before sundown!" And the changing of the guards. He hid his scheming smile behind his fan.

The boy nodded, jaw setting beneath the white wrap hiding everything below his nose.

"Onward!" The merchant's enthusiastic declaration startled him, "Lead the way, young man."

After casting one last scowl at the pushy man in green the guard lifted his chin and strode forward again, creating a path for the procession behind him.

They had landed just west of the outcropping of land (ripe for placing a grand home or temple) that jutted into the harbor and east of the Heptastadium. The port was small, but bustling and soon they found themselves on the great east-west avenue, the Canopic Way, meandering through the Persian, Jewish, and Syrian districts and into the Greek district toward the main palace on Lochias. The Queen had a residence on the island of Antirrhodus, but the main palace was a short sail away across the royal harbor. Of course heading straight away into the royal harbor was foolhardy and likely to draw unwanted attention from the enemy faction, thus why they had to go out of their way. Avoiding a confrontation that could lead to all of their deaths was naturally of the utmost importance.

Luckily the merchant had acquaintances in every district. It was simply a matter of greeting his friends warmly and asking for the latest news about the region. It was easy to avoid Ptolemy's men if one knew where they were stationed.

It took much of the day to reach the palace precincts, but timing was everything.

The merchant had known exactly which palms to grease to get them through the first few checkpoints into the royal enclosure. But as they reached one of the last gates, they were stopped by Seireteian guards. It was lucky that Domino Kuchiki had replaced the majority of Ptolemy's men with his own, otherwise despite how clever the merchant was they would not have made it so far.

But as they approached the palace's main gate the tension in the air was palpable.

Stepping forward the merchant sketched an over-embellished bow to the two guards that eyed the party with stone-cold gazes.

The poor guards that had come face-to-face with the formidable merchant had had no chance. As the party moved beyond them into the palace, they were left looking slightly bewildered and uncertain of their decision to let the strangers pass.

The queen's guard was not sure what was worse- the pounding of his heart, or the slap of their sandals on the marble in a place that he had once called home- but was now occupied by foreign soldiers.

"It won't be occupied for long." A confident voice murmured in his ear as though hearing his thoughts.

Taking a breath the boy nodded, brilliant gem-colored eyes flashing with resolve.

Ahead were the enormous doors of the throne room, alabaster surface etched with traditional images of the pharaoh's supreme reign and strength.

It was a sight that stirred the boy's heart. But there were guards at this barrier as well and they did not look so easy to bypass as the last few.

The young guard could barely believe their luck- could barely fathom the sudden race of his heart as he bowed at the waist amongst his comrades.

The merchant was making introductions, calling out in a voice reminiscent of any seller of wares in the market place or perhaps an experienced ringmaster of the Coliseum.

Naturally, the man they had come seeking looked completely preoccupied, uninterested in whatever the babbling man behind him was chattering at him about.

"Domino, please, allow me to present my gift!" The merchant implored, spreading his hands in an elegant gesture a wide smile quirking his lips.

But the conqueror of continents had no time to while away on an emboldened hawker. He was bent over a table studying the layout of the city for not the first time; his calculating grey eyes sweeping the map from the Pharos to Lake Mareotis.

The Domino's Second in Command was more easily distracted however and he frowned, staring beyond his captain across the table from him to the group of men.

He scratched his tattooed brow a moment as he wondered why the man prattling on with all the eloquence of a court jester looked so familiar. And how had this little party gotten past all the gates in the first place?

Certainly he had heard the group announced by one of the soldier's that had hurried in from the northern gate. But while Domino Kuchiki had acknowledged the presence of an envoy of the queen at the gates- he had ordered the soldier to find them lodgings. Domino Kuchiki had intended to make them wait. So how had they charmed their way past at least five sets of guards into the dictator's presence?

Renji glanced over the foreigners. There were two burly men of about the same height, dark skin and black eyes, gold glinting in their ears; they were Nubian by all appearances. These two were on one knee at each end of a rolled carpet that they had carried between them on their shoulders. There was the merchant himself, and two other guards, one behind the carpet, standing swaddled in full desert robes and one near at hand to the merchant. The one nearest the merchant was much smaller than the rest and looked much like the other at the back of the group, most of their face hidden.

What he could see of the young man was a pair of eyes shimmering like tanzanite. He found himself staring, lost in a feeling of familiarity that unnerved him.

He snapped to when the green garbed man stepped forward slightly which set him and the other soldiers in the room on the defensive.

"Please, Domino," The man spoke, dropping the hint of indolent ease which he had affected from the start, "We have travelled a great distance to present you with both the queen's gift and her words. Permit me-permit us to fulfill my lady's mission." The fan that the merchant had been waving about was gone and the smiling face seemed a memory. All that was left on this man's countenance was determination, grey eyes beneath the shadow of the turban hard with a kind of unwavering resilience.

Finally, Byakuya raised his eyes and unfolded to his full height. He sighed inaudibly, his jaw clenching. After a brief moment in which he composed himself he turned to face the man.

His eyes narrowed. He too had a feeling he should know the identity of this man, but was at the moment at a loss to put a name to the face.

"You have come baring a gift and a message from the queen, you say? Then quickly- come to your reason for this interruption and then be gone."

A slow smile reappeared on the man's face and he bowed with languid grace that might have been interpreted as a mocking gesture, "Domino."

Byakuya's eyes flashed, but he watched carefully as the two muscular guards kneeling on the floor brandished short daggers.

In response the Lord's own men stepped forward, but with a raised hand he had stilled them.

The two men cut away the binds on the rug with swift precise movements.

Suspicion was thick in the air as each of Domino Kuchiki's fellows stared hard at the so-called gift being slowly unfurled between the two men.

The colors and designs on the carpet being revealed little by little were intricate and masterful. Anyone might appreciate the art of it as well as recognize the expense. But Egypt was no pauper's state. Despite the queen being in exile, surely she had procured just enough wealth before fleeing or perhaps gathered such wealthy support to be able to afford such an extravagant gift.

But as in awe of it as all the men were, what stilled them all was the figure that rolled out with grace and ease as though merely awakening from a pleasant nap.

Golden eyes blinked up at the tall, intimidating figure of Domino Kuchiki with no trace of fear.

A sharp-toothed smile parted furry black lips even as the room came alive with gasps and murmurs.

What the hell? Renji's face scrunched in confusion.

"You have presented me with… a cat?" Byakuya's brow twitched with irritation though his tone was even. His words stilled the room once more.

"Not just any cat," A warm, voice intoned after a long pause, slightly muffled by fabric. All attention turned to the Arab guard who had been standing unobtrusively behind his fellows. Suddenly, both the merchant and the petite soldier dropped to one knee as the guard stepped forward, bewildering the room of Seireteian soldiers.

A leather-gloved hand reached across the half-shrouded face and pulled back the sweep of white cloth revealing delicate features that caught the breath in the room.

With a smile, sea green eyes twinkling with both mirth and mystery, the woman spoke again, "That cat has been chosen by the goddess. Blessed."

As she slowly moved forward, between her bowed retinue, it was astounding that none had noticed that this creature was quite obviously female as she switched her hips with every step. When she had padded onto the rug she stopped and gazed down fondly at the black cat now sitting regally like a statue, golden eyes watching Domino Kuchiki intently.

The woman bent and scooped up the cat in her arms, immediately scratching behind the creature's ears even as she leveled a smile at the man five steps away, "You'll forgive me. She is not a gift for you. She insisted on coming- and who am I to deny the familiar of a goddess? You may keep the carpet if you'd like."

Despite his inner hesitation to acknowledge this woman as the one that logic recognized (given the situation) Byakuya greeted emotionlessly, "Queen Cleopatra."

"Welcome to my city, Domino Kuchiki." She inclined her head slightly. When she looked up again she met his eyes without hesitation.

His eyes narrowed in scrutiny. Something was amiss. This woman was not as he had imagined her. Certainly there were traces of her Ptolemaic heritage, but for the most part she was all too… Egyptian. She much resembled the images of queens cut deep into the old structures that still peeked out between the buildings of a modern, culturally mish-moshed, predominantly Greek city. A honey-brown oval face with high, sculpted cheekbones, a long, well- shaped nose, and full lips, she certainly bore the face of Egyptian royalty. If not for the green eyes- not so almond shaped as the natives of the region, she might've passed for one of full blood. But Cleopatra could not be full-blooded Egyptian, surely the bloodline had been diluted by those of non-Greek lineage over the last two hundred years, but for the most part the last few generations should have been clearly of Macedonian descent.

His suspicions were cast aside however as she spoke again.

"Domino Kuchiki, I am pleased by your presence in Alexandria. You must forgive me for not welcoming you when you arrived as I was… embroiled in political affairs." Her voice was melodic, not so soft or high, but warm and flowing. Her Latin was impeccable- unaccented.

He had held her gaze this entire time and like one of true royalty her chin was lifted to meet his steely eyes without wavering. She carried herself like a queen, nevermind the baggy desert pantaloons and head cloth.

While he was of noble blood – blood that stretched from a long line of both honorable courtiers and even Seireteian kings, he was not a king. He was certainly not far off, but still- he did not bear so high a title. Thus he humbled himself, albeit slightly, to bow his head deeply to her.

"Queen Cleopatra," He intoned, "I am honored to be made welcome to your beautiful city."

She chuckled and it was like the feeling of a feather brushing along his spine, "Beautiful, yes, but in turmoil despite how much of the city seems unaffected."

Byakuya's brow twitched slightly. She was wasting no time with further pleasantries- alluding to the heart of the matter sooner than he had expected.

"Alexandria is a proud city." He responded.

Again she gave a soft laugh, "Indeed. The politicians hide away in their mansions- turn a blind eye to the unrest until they must step in to declare for the winning faction. But the people- ah- well they hold their heads high and shout and make demands in the public forums… There was much talk about your arrival, Domino. None too pleasant."

"It would seem the citizens are not as pleased as you to welcome us." He said without a trace of bitterness. He cast his eyes to the side so that she did not see the hint of amusement in them as he continued, "But it would seem they are not overly complimentary when speaking your name either."

The queen's jaw set, but the smile did not flicker, "Then it seems we have something in common. Alexandria wishes to be rid of us both, regardless of our intentions."

"Yes." He locked eyes with her once more.

Silence descended and the tension was weighty- no one moved. Kuchiki's men had never seen him so obviously challenged by a woman. He had treated with queens before, but none with so sharp a tongue as hers. Despite how politely she spoke she was still baiting him.

Their stare-down left no doubt that they were battling for the upper hand, neither willing to admit outright the precarious positions they had been placed in.

Byakuya Kuchiki was in foreign territory- rather hostile to his interference. His forces had been much depleted by his pursuit of Koga, his resources limited. Alexandria would have been the perfect place to re-supply as well as rest had it not been for the fact that the populace was against him and those in power could not be trusted to lend support. Ptolemy's camp had murdered Koga to gain his favor- or so the tale was told- but that did not mean they truly looked favorably upon him as a superior. The truth was he was outnumbered. If Ptolemy chose to recall all his troops from Syria, Byakuya would find himself surrounded- perhaps under siege.

As for the queen, she had returned in secret to a city that did not recognize her as queen. With her brother's men crawling all over she was under threat of being discovered and imprisoned- or possibly assassinated. Regicide was not so unusual in Alexandria. In Byakuya's eyes it was obvious whose position was more precarious. He stood a fighting chance, whereas the queen could count her allies on one hand.

She too seemed to acknowledge this and grudgingly broke the quiet first, "I have heard you are not a man to be cowed by the opinions of others, however. If that is the case, we are again similarly minded. That being said, I suppose we would be wise to work together to resolve this situation." It cost her something to allude to an alliance, but he recognized the resolve it took to offer.

Still, he was not one to concede easily, "Perhaps that would be the best scenario in regards to this state of affairs. Time will tell."

She took a visible breath, her eyes flashing. But she smiled slowly, "Well then, I shall leave you to contemplate your options." Without further argument she turned on her heel and started toward the doors.

One glance from Domino Kuchiki however and there were men in her path. But with equal swiftness, one of the queen's own put themselves between the foreign soldiers and the woman. A snow-white sword caught the light as the guard held a low defensive stance, sapphire eyes glaring daggers at the men who would dare advance on their charge.

The queen did not look back, her voice easy despite the sudden threat, "Domino Kuchiki, I am sure you are aware that by being here to treat with you I have put my life on the line. Ptolemy does not know of my presence yet, and I wish to keep it that way. It is best if my men and I fall back into the shadows for the time being."

Byakuya did not reply, his own hand resting on his sword casually as he contemplated her words. He knew he could not allow her to be killed under his own nose. If he were to be honest with himself he might have need of her – either as a bargaining chip or as… an ally. His grey eyes clouded at this unpleasant thought, becoming stormy.

There was a smile in the queen's voice and her words threw him from his careful strategizing, "We will be going then… Domino Kuchiki has no intention of harming us… Stand down, Rukia."

Byakuya felt Renji stiffen behind him, even as he himself felt every muscle clench tight beneath his flesh.

The familiar name made a hard fist of pain squeeze his heart for a moment as it rang in the air.

Rukia.

AN: I stuck with Latin as the language of Seiretei simply because it works.

Naturally, if you're familiar with the history, you'll be aware of the legend/fact that Cleopatra was supposedly smuggled into the palace in a carpet. Talk about dramatic entrance… But as it's been done- this was my vision.

Also of note is that Alexandria is an intricate city and while some things are known about the city's layout in ancient times, there is still debate of course. It's really rather interesting to look at maps that depict the city. Sadly, much of the ancient structures are underwater and so there is a lot of history lost as it is hard to make excavations and discoveries in such conditions. Still it is worth a look at the antiquities found if you're so inclined!

Glossary:

Sirwal: Pants worn in Muslim sometimes Greek countries, they predate the Christian era. They are also known as Punjabi pants.

Heptastadium: The stone causeway that linked the Pharos to the mainland.

Next chapter: Byakuya gets the cold shoulder, secrets abound, and Ichigo runs afoul of a beautiful boy.

Thanks!