Chapter 8

Prayer For The Dead

The remainder of the seventy day mourning period for Pharaoh and his priests passed and it was soon time to place them in their prepared tombs and observe the traditional funeral rituals…

While Siamun and Mutnodjmet stayed behind at the villa to take care of the children, Seto and Nephthys made their way to the West bank of the Nile and Ta-sekhet-ma'at(1) to join Set, Kisara, Esetnefret, Mana, and the new priests for the funeral ceremony…

The former Queen Tiaa also arrived, along with a number of hired mourners… They were all dressed in long blue tunics, the traditional color of mourning, and had covered their faces and hair with dust… Out of all of them though, Nephthys suspected only Tiaas' tears of greif were genuine… Atem had been her beloved childhood sweetheart and husband after all…

Atem… Mahaado… Karim… Shaadi… Siamun Mirron… Akunadin… Their remains had been seen to, the proper organs removed and placed in the sacred canopic jars… They had all been dressed in the best attire and jewelry possible, wrapped in the finest linen and placed in each of their own gold and silver painted sarcophaguses…

Seven tombs had been prepared for Per'aas and each of his priests final resting places…Treasured possessions filled the tombs for the next life, and carved and painted on each of the tomb walls were depictions of the battle with the God of Darkness, Zork, and how each of them had fought heroically and sacrificed their very lives for the future of Khemet…

After the priests had been seen to, and placed and sealed in each of their separate tombs, it was time to preform The Wpt,Opening Of The Mouth Ceremony,(2) for Per'aa Atem…

Set himself asked for the honor… The new priests compled and gave him the ceremonial Jakel headed mask and sacred tools…

"O King, I open your mouth for you with the adze of Anpu… Heru has split open the King's mouth, using that with which he split open his father's mouth, using that with which he split open Asars' mouth, with the iron which issued forth from Setekh, with the adze of iron which split open the mouths of the gods."(3)

He recited the incantation as the late Kings senses were symbolically revived…

Then, it was time for the former Queen and the former Priestess of the Millenium Torque to do their part in the ritual…

"Gods and men all search for you. They weep for you together," Tiaa began, tears streaming down her own face. "While I can see I call to you, crying out to Heaven, but you do not hear me." Then she brushed the tears delicately from her eyes, taking care not to smear the khol and eyepaint. "Yet, I am your sister whom you loved on Earth," she continued. "And you loved none but me, your sister."(4)

Nephthys smiled comfortingly at Tiaa, then she began to recite her own lines to finish the ritual…

"Good king, come to your house, be happy!. All your foes are gone, your two sisters are beside you, they guard your bier and cry out to you through their tears. I am Nephthys, your beloved sister, I am with you, your bodyguard for all eternity."(5)

At last the funeral rituals for Per'aa Atem were complete and it was time to move the guilded, oversize coffin into the tomb…

The funeral procession made their way into the tomb… Four men carried the coffin and followed Set, Kisara, Seto and Nephthys to where it was to be laid… Their were numerous deadly traps along the way, but the future Pharaoh had a map of the entire tomb left behind by Siamun Mirron, including every single one of its traps and how to avoid them, so they were able to reach the heart of the tomb safely…

With him, Set also carried a newly carved tablet… As the coffin was placed in the centre of the burial chamber he set it carefully upon the tomb wall…

Curious, Seto went to look at it… His eyes widened in surprise and recognition… Two figures that looked like him and Yugi seemed to be engaged in a duel with their signiture monsters, the Blue Eyes White Dragon and the Dark Magician, which hovered protectively over them… It was that same tablet Isis had shown him from the museum…

The dead body lies in a vessel covered by sand and dust
Gold also lies there, and also a sword
The body wrapped in a sheath of time
The corpse does not bear the king's name
In that time on the battle field of the soul he cries out
A poem of war
A poem to a friend
Guide him to the place where long ago souls crossed(6)

The eulogy was written in Egyptian hieroglyphics, but Kaiba was able to read and understand them as if they were in English, the same as he could understand and speak with everyone in ancient Egypt…

The young former CEO shook his head with a wry smile. He hadn't known his past incarnation was a poet.

Still unseen, but not for much longer, Bakare watched with scorn as the funeral procession left the now sealed tombs and made their way to the pavillion where the traditional feast would be held…

The Kings, the priests and the nobles, all of the wealthy and powerful got these elaborate funerary rituals. Hired professional mourners, protective prayers, spells and charms. Finely decorated tombs filled with all their valuable possesions. Models and drawings of beautiful estates, servants and slaves for the afterlife. Their bodies were purified and embalmed, wrapped in fine linen and placed in a number of decadent coffins.

Yet, what had his family and the people of Kuru Eruna received upon their deaths?. Nothing!. Not one tear, not a single prayer or eulegy!. Their bodies were desecrated and mutillated, then used to create those items!. Amumpanufer and several of his comerades had been left to rot on the spikes, never to be buried!. He himself had been defeated and destroyed without a second thought!.

The King of Thieves glared hatefully at the figures of Set and his future counterpart… The future Per'aa and everyone associated with him would soon feel his justice… A menacing smile spread across his scarred, tanned face… He couldn't wait to make the autocratic little tyrant feel the same pain he had felt since that horrible night!. Couldn't wait to see Sets anguish and dispair when he saw everyone he knew, cared about and loved dying and rotting on the pikes by his own hand!.

His gaze once again rested on the delicate form of the white maiden beside Set… Then he nearly gasped out loud!. For a moment it was not the future kings betrothed, Kisara, he saw, it was his own little sister!. It was Amunet!. Indeed, Amunet would have been about that age if she had lived…

Bakare rubbed his eyes and shook his head, then the vision was gone and he found himself once again looking at Kisara as she followed her future husband and the others to the pavillion for the feast...

"So you still allowed those death traps to be set in Per'aas tomb," Kisara asked with a slight frown. Personally, she agreed with Lady Nephthys that they were far to extreme and sadistic, even to protect a tomb.

Set took a small sip from his wine glass and nodded.

"Yes," he answered. "I can't say I approve of it any more then you and Nephthys do, my love, but it was out of respect for Atem, and for Siamun Mirron who designed the tomb. Besides, I had as many warnings as possible placed throughout. A person would have to be near insane with pure greed not to heed those warnings."

"I see," the future Queen replied softly… She had to admit, he had a point… Less then a year ago she herself had been a wanderer, penniless and hungry… but no matter how desperate even she would not have stolen from a tomb where there were traps that could mean her death, not even for gold or jewels…

Seto thought the whole scene resembled a party more then a funeral. The pavillion was set up with decorations and flowers, musicians played and singers sang tributes to the late king and his priests. Several tables were set up and laden with food and drink, and various members of the royal court were chatting together, eating and drinking. The main table consisted of Set, Kisara, Himself, Nephthys, Esetnefret and Mana, as well as the former Queen Tiaa and the newly appointed priests.

"Do you know what you have planned for your own burial site, Set," Esetnefret asked the future Per'aa.

"Hmmm," Set replied thoughtfully. "I've been considering it. What I know for sure is that I don't want any traps for guarding my own tomb."

At this, Mana blinked in wide eyed surprise.

"No traps?. But Lord Set, how will you protect your final resting place? Your coffin? Your treasures and possessions?."

The young future king smiled as his gaze rested upon Kisara…

"There is only one treasure I wish to protect," he answered whistfully. "All my worldly posessions I plan to leave as gifts to the people of Khemet after my death."

Kisara and Nephthys smiled in approval, but Esetnefret, Mana and Tiaa were practicaly scandalized.

"But what shall you have for yourself in the afterlife," Eset questioned.

Set took Kisaras hand.

"When my time comes to enter Duat, I shall not be wanting any worldly possessions. Better they be put to use to aid the living who will need them. A simple, decent coffin and a safe place to hide it in Ta-sekhet-ma'at is all I really need."

At this, murmers of surprise came from everyone seated at the banquet tables. Some were approving, while others were not.

"I knew he'd changed since the last time we saw him," Seto said, leaning towards Nephthys. "But I didn't expect this."

The Lady of the House gave him a small smile.

"Nor did I," she answered. "But I agree with his reasoning. Perhaps I would have arranged the same thing in his place. Wouldn't you?."

"Mmm…" Came the thoughtful grunt…He supposed so… After all, Kaiba Corp had always supported local charities, and he'd always believed that "you couldn't take it with you" after all…

The funeral banquet continued into the night, though soon Set felt like he needed a few minutes to walk along the river, breath in the fresh air and rid himself of the slight headache brought on by the overly sweet wine, beer and food…

Kisara, Seto and Nephthys also decided to join him and the four of them strolled along the riverbank near the pavilion… For the first few minutes, there was calm silence, interrupted only by the sound of the lapping waters, the gentle night breeze through the palm leaves and the rushes, and the occasional call of a marsh bird…

Finally, the future Pharaoh decided to speak of what had been on his mind since after the burial of Atem and the priests…

"I've been thinking," he began. "I would like to do something to apologize to the spirits of those killed in the Kuru Eruna massacre, something to promise that a horrible incident like that will not happen again. That way, it may make it easier for Khemet to enter a new dynasty."

His betrothed nodded in approval, her silvery hair shining in the moonlight.

"That sounds very noble," she smiled, admiration in her blue eyes.

"What do you intend to do," Nephthys asked.

What indeed?… Was there any way to fully clear this slate of the crimes done towards the people?… Compensation?… Apologies?… Or must he find a different way?…

He was about to say so, when he and the group noticed a figure staning in the darkness nearby… For a moment he thought it may be one of the attendants at the funeral who had also come outside, but as they drew closer he realized that was not the case…

"Hello, Priest Set," Bakare greeted him with a cruel smile. "Or is it Per'aa now?."

The future Pharaohs' eyes widened. Up untill this moment, he had had his doubts as to weather the rumors and theorys were true, but now he was absolutely positive that The King of Thieves, though dead, was still of this world!.

Also, to his surprise, his future incarnation looked just about as shocked as he was!.

"Bakura," Seto exclaimed. "Bakura Ryo!." Aside from his stronger, more tanned frame, his ancient Egyptian clothing and the scar on his face, this could have been the exact twin of the quiet young British/Japanese boy who'd just moved to Domino City!.

"Ahhh, and I see that joke of a reincarnation of yours is still here," Bakare continued, ignoring Kaiba. "No matter though. I came merely to pay my own respects to the dead brat and his flock of sheep," he added with a sneer.

Angered at the insult to his cousin and the priests, Set came forward.

"Atem was no brat," the future King of Egypt shouted as he approached the King of Thieves. "And the priests were not his sheep!. I can understand your anger for what happened to Kuru Eruna, but…"

But before he could finish, or get any closer, a powerful, lethal blast split the area of ground in front of him, forcing him to step back, startled.

Bakare was glaring at them, clenching his teeth and fists in rage.

"Never speak of my village again," he snarled angrilly. "You have no right!. Not when you and the priesthood whear the bloody corpses of my people, my family, and sport them as if they were war trophies for all to see!."

"Bakare…" This time Sets voice was pleading…

"If you take one more step closer, or if you dare mention the name of my village again, I'll summon Diabound to level this whole funeral ceremony and all of Waset!."

Horrified, the future Pharaoh stopped and remained silent…

"I don't believe he's giving in to that white haired freak," the young former CEO muttered in disgust under his breath. Then he moved in front of Nephthys and Kisara.

"Look," he shouted defiantly to Bakare. "From what I hear, the ones who made those Millenium Items are all dead now, and so are you!."

"He's right," Set agreed, finding his toung again. "Why does your spirit not move on to the next world?. You have no right threatening the innocent people here because of grudges against the dead!."

"That's where you're wrong," the vengeful ghost replied hatefully. "It is my grudge, my hatred, that holds my spirit to this world!. And it is not just those who massacred my village to create the items! My judgement and punishment is also for anyone who serves them! Anyone connected with them! In short, all of Khemet!."

"What," the young future King cried in horror and disbelief.

"A Khemet without my people, without my family and I, is a crime unto itself," Bakare continued. "Only when I extract my justice upon Akunadins line, upon this country, will my spirit be able to rest and join my family in paradise!."

"Bakare, please," Set shouted in desperation. "Bring your so-called justice upon me if you must! But leave my people out of this!."

The King of Thieves' gaze rested upon Kisara…

"You're wrong, Per'aa," he answered spitefully, as if the title were an insult. "My justice will not be complete untill I put you through the same Hell that I and all Kuru Eruna went through!. Your kind destroyed our future and our happiness!. Our souls will never be appeased untill yours is taken from you as well!."

Upon those words, Kisara felt a chill run through her and her small shoulders trembled…

Bakare then turned and began to walk away from the group…

"I will see you again after your wedding and coronation," The King of Thieves said coldly. "Then I will show you I am more then just a ghost."

The future Pharaoh, his betrothed and his companions stood in horrified shock. Finally, Set clenched his fists and shouted after the daparting figure.

"Bakare," he pleaded. "Aside from that, isn't there anything else?. Isn't there any other way to atone for what happened to you and your village?."

The King of Thieves stopped and slowly turned around…

"You are even more foolish and ubsurd then before, Set," Bakare replied darkly. "You ask what else you can do?. What else can you do?. Well, if I were to answer, I would say…" At this a malignant smile spread across his tanned, scarred face…"You can suffer."(7)

Then, Bakare continued walking into the darkness untill his form had completely dissipeared…

Set lowered his head and sunk to his knees…

"You can suffer." The King of Thieves' parting words remained with him, hovering over him like a dark cloud…

"Set…?" Kisara approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder…

"Kisara… Shesep…" he whispered. "What have I done?… I am so sorry…"

"But there is no need to be sorry, my love. It's Bakare who…"

"No, no, this is all my own doing, mine and my familys!." He buried his face in his hands, ashamed. "They created Bakare, and now he's going to make us all pay for everything! You included!."

The girl blinked and put a hand to her heart. He may be right. The way Bakare was looking at her… as if he had wanted to use her to extract his revenge on Set…

Her beloved did not even raise his head to look at her…

"Kisara… Forgive me… But I… I cannot marry you…"

For a moment there was only shocked silence from everybody…

Finally, the white maiden clasped her hands together.

"But… But why...?" she pleaded, tears forming in her blue eyes…

Set remembered gazing down at Kisaras sleeping form the first night she had been brought to the secret apartments in the palace… He had wondered how much pain must fill those blue eyes before he could get what he wanted from her… But now, all he wanted was to protect the woman he loved from Bakares wrath, even if it meant denying himself and filling her blue eyes with more sadness…

"You know that if you were to stay with me, as my wife and Khemets Queen, then you would be Bakares first target, Kisara," the future Pharaoh answered, finally turning his head and looking at her with pain and longing. "He'll be going after you just to get to me."

As she heard him say those words, those welling tears released themselves and streamed down her white face…

"Kisara, please," Set cried, his voice near to cracking at the sight of the tears he had caused her to shed. "You must understand. The farther away you are from me, the safer you will be."

"What!."

Hearing this, Nephthys was furious!. Gods be damned if she was going to let Set cause Kisara such pain!.

The Lady of the House angrilly approached the distrought future King, her hand raised to slap his face yet again…

But Seto put a restraining hand on her arm…

"Hold it, Vixen. I can't let you do that."

She blinked and stared at him in surprise…

He gave her a wry smile…

"I can't let you have all the fun!."

Then he turned to his past incarnation, fist raised, and punched the future Pharaoh of Egypt square across the face!.

"You idiot," he yelled. "You cowardly, self-obsorbed idiot!. Didn't I warn you what would happen if you hurt Kisara in any way!."

Set slowly, dizzily, rose to his feet, his hand over his aching face. As if Nephthys wasn't bad enough, now his own future reincarnation was punching him out!.

"I am doing this to protect Kisara from harm," he protested. "Bakare made it perfectly clear he intends to target her first to get to me!."

Kaiba rolled his eyes with a disgusted grunt.

"Look, I don't expect someone who views the brain itself as just exess tissue to be removed during embalming to have the intelligence to understand," he snapped, "but at least try to think straight for a minute?. Bakura or Bakare or whoever he's supposed to be already knows how you and Kisara feel about eachother. He'll be after her life just to hurt you, no matter if you're together or not!. Pushing her away isn't going to protect her!."

"But… But I don't know any other way…" Set replied weakly as Kisara put a consoling hand on his arm.

Nephthys put a hand on her hip and shook her head in disbelief at the future kings' obliviousness.

"And what are we in all this, Per'aa Setekh," the vixen demanded. "Useless bystanders?. Do you really think we are going to leave Kisara and you to deal with this on your own?."

Bakare had said he would see Set again after his wedding and coronation. Well then, she and Seto would just stay in Waset with the royal couple and help in any way they could until the threat passed.

Of course, Kaiba wasn't exactly thrilled with the prospect…

"Hey! This is supposed to be his problem," the young former CEO protested. He'd been looking forward to things getting back to normal once this whole business was through, but now here was this new disruption!."

In response, Nephthys pinched his arm roughly.

"His problems are yours too," she hissed under her breath. "Besides, you didn't punch your past self in the face just to make him deal with this all on his own, did you?."

Seto was silent… As much as he hated to admit it, she was right again…

"Good, then it's settled," the Lady of the House declaired.

Setekh sighed and lowered his head, shaking it slowly…

"Thank you… It's just that… Well, I hate to put all of you in the middle of this…"

At this, Kisara firmly took his hands in hers.

"Set," look at me," she told him.

He lifted his head and both pairs of blue eyes met and held…

"We are not "in the middle" of this, my love," Kisara continued decisively, already sounding like the Queen she would eventually be. "We are right here with you."

(1) The official name for the site was The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in The West of Thebes, or more usually, Ta-sekhet-ma'at (the Great Field).

(2) The ritual that would re-animate the deceased was called The Opening of the Mouth ceremony. It was an important ritual in both funerary and in temple practice. The Opening of the Mouth originated as a ritual to endow statues with the capacity to support the living ka, and to receive offerings. It was performed on cult statues of gods, kings, and private individuals, as well as on the mummies of both humans and Apis bulls. It was even performed on the individual rooms of temples and on the entire temple structure. The effect of the ritual was to animate the recipient (or, in the case of a deceased individual, to re-animate it). The ritual allowed the mummy, statue, or temple, to eat, breathe, see, hear and enjoy the offerings and provisions performed by the priests and officiants, thus to sustain the ka. The Egyptian terms for the ceremony are wpt-r and wn-r, both translating literally to "opening of the mouth." The verb wpi denotes an opening that entails splitting, dividing or separating, and is used to describe the separation of two combatants, the dividing of time or even a determination of the truth. The verb wn emphasizes accessibility and exposure, used in contexts such as wn-hr, literally "open the face", but more correctly meaning "see" or "be seen".

(3) Traditional incantation recited during The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony.

(4) Isis's part from "The Lamentations Of Isis And Nephthys".

(5) Nephthys's part from "The Lamentations Of Isis And Nephthys".

(6) The actual eulogy poem to Pharaoh Atem from Preist Seto as was seen written on the tomb in the manga.

(7) Yup! Another "Rurouni Kenshin" reference!. What can I say?.