Chapter Five- The First Confession

Seto smoothed down her hair and robes before stepping out of her room to face the day. She had listened to Isis as she told her the good things of being female. She wasn't sure if the things were good and they certainly didn't make her feel better. She still hated what had happened and felt the only thing that would make her feel better was if she got even with Bakura.

Isis had given her a disapproving frown when she expressed this yesterday. "Seto, having Bakura as a woman will not change your situation."

"No, but it would make me feel better knowing he was sharing my difficulties," she had said.

"Bakura will not allow himself to be caught as he may think that you will want him female."

So, Seto had slept on that thought and woke up to find that, while getting revenge on Bakura was a pleasing notion, it was not the deportment of a priest or priestess. I will not entertain the idea of getting even again. It is not proper for one of my training.

She walked through the halls, seeing the admiring looks of the guards. She fired stern looks at them and it wiped those looks off their faces. That brought great satisfaction to her. Ignoring their looks is not an option as it doesn't work for me. She paused outside the throne room and exhaled slowly. This would be the first time that the rest of the court would see her new form. She was aware that she looked and sounded different, but she was determined to proceed as normally as possible. She walked in with her head up and back straight. She moved past everyone, took her place beside Isis, and looked levelly in front and beside her. All three were astonished and clearly curious as to how it happened.

Atem entered the room and the court responded as usual. The pharaoh sat as the court rose and his eyes roved over the court with his gaze lingering on Seto. I was correct. Those robes add to her beauty. "As you can see," he said, pulling himself from his thoughts. "Seto is a woman now. Would you like to tell how it happened, Seto?"

Seto shook her head, unable to speak of the incident. "No, my pharaoh. You may, if you wish."

Atem nodded. "Mahad and Seto learned that Bakura was responsible for the traps being set off or untouched. He tricked Seto into chasing him into a magical chamber that changes one permanently into the opposite gender. Mahad had looked for a counter spell, but he did not find one." He looked at Seto. "I am sorry that you cannot be male again."

"I accept your condolences, my pharaoh. I will manage."

The rest of the meeting proceeded and Atem kept an eye on his members. It was clear to him that Seto hated being a woman as her clenched fists indicated, though her face was impassive, giving it a passing resemblance to her male face. It will take time for her to not hate her body and learn to like it. I like it and it seems I am not the only one. His eyes flicked to Mahad who kept looking at Seto with clear admiration; at least it was clear to Atem.

As far as Atem knew, Seto was unattached. Her studies and steady gain of power were all she cared about. The concept of romance clearly did not interest her. But that was when she was a man. Her female hormones may drive her to love someone. I will let Mahad try first and then I will make a move if it seems that Mahad did not win her heart.

Seto trailed her fingers idly along the shelves in the archives. She desired something to read, but was at a loss as to what to choose. She wasn't in the mood to attend to the list of topics she considered necessary to her title or to her quest for power or knowledge. Her eyes roved the shelves and they alighted on the shelf that held the gender switch scrolls. She regarded them for a moment and recalled Mahad saying he found it a fascinating subject before she removed them to read them herself. After all, who else is more suited to read about gender switching than one whose gender was changed? She took them to a table, lit the braziers, sat down, and began to read.

Mahad returned from patrol, reported that all was well, asked around for Seto's location. He was directed to the archives and entered to see her poring over a scroll, a few in front of the one she was reading, and a couple to her left. She looked up as his entrance wasn't completely silent. "Mahad," she said neutrally.

"Seto. You do not seem to be quite as angry with me like you were yesterday."

"I…apologize for my reaction. It is not your fault that there is no counter spell. Permanent is permanent."

Mahad sat beside her. "It sounds like you are accepting your new gender."

"I changed yesterday, Mahad. It will take time to adjust. I honestly still hate it. I keep hoping that this is all a dream."

"It's not a dream, I'm afraid." He looked down at the scroll in front of Seto and saw an opportunity to change the direction of the topic. "You're reading the gender switch scrolls."

"You said it was a fascinating subject and I decided to see for myself. You were correct: It is a fascinating subject."

"I'm glad you think so. I would be happy to share other topics I find interesting."

"I do need other topics to read as my current list of required scrolls to study is dwindling," she mused aloud.

Mahad then selected a couple of scrolls himself and sat across from Seto who had returned to her reading. Mahad opened a scroll and tried to focus on it but he kept looking up and admiring his reading companion. Gods, she is just so pretty. I am secretly glad that she will stay a woman. She hates it, but she'll adjust and I could help her by being her lover. That may be what will realign her thinking.

Seto then looked up, her blue eyes locking onto his brown ones. "Mahad? Are you all right? You seem to be…staring at me."

Mahad briefly dropped his eyes before looking up again. "I'm sorry. I just can't get over how lovely you are."

"I am more than aware of how others view me," she commented dryly.

Mahad smiled as he reached out and placed a hand on top of hers. He thought he felt a jolt go through his fingers as they wrapped around Seto's fingers.

Seto pulled her hand out from under his. "Mahad, what are you doing?" she demanded.

"I…really like you…and it would seem I forgot that you and Isis are still in love."

"That's right. We are." Seto's tone then softened from the sharp one she had just used. "I do appreciate you telling me how you feel. There's a possibility I may change my sexual preference in the future but then again I may not."

Mahad seized onto the 'may' in Seto's explanation. He still had a change to be Seto's beloved and silently told himself to not give up. Her female hormones may change her preferences in terms of gender. She was still in love with Isis and Isis still loved Seto. Time could change their feelings for each other and give Mahad his chance. Yes, he had magic and another magician wouldn't hesitate to use a spell to make Seto fall for him, but Mahad wouldn't do that. He wanted Seto to love him of her own free will, not by a spell.

Mahad and Seto returned to their scrolls, the latter discreetly looking at the former. He was a handsome man and an honorable person. He would not force himself on her and accepted that he had little to no chance of getting together with her.

Mahad grew up in a life of dedication, truth, and honor. Those has shaped him to be a man who honors one's wishes and would not betray one's trust either. He is a good friend and that is all it will be.