Author's Notes:

Now just to let you know peeps, I quit FF.N before because I keep getting hundreds of views, but no reviews. Please review, tell me what you think. If you love it, if you hate it, if you're confused...anything! Trust me, it helps me as an author get better at this.

NOTES:
(Gods)
-Hathor: Goddess of love and joy; wife of Horus, sometimes thought of as the mother of the pharaoh.
-Osiris: The god of death, ruler of the underworld and father of Horus.
-Hapy: God that brings the flood to the Nile every year.

(Customs)
-Seto is a priest and in ancient Egypt, they had to remove all body hair to be pure enough to approach the gods...but I was nice and left him with his eyebrows...cause it's weird enough imagining him without hair, let alone without his eyebrows. Don't worry...he'll grow it out soon.

---

It was nearly five thousand years ago when humans first touched upon the shadow monsters and their alternate realm. Of course, as with most of what humans encounter, they tried to control those monsters and bend them to their will...and for a time, it worked and a bridge between the worlds was forged.

Humans could summon those beasts at will.

The ancient Egyptians were the first of the human race to learn how to call upon the beasts, and to some extent, control them. Using the monsters to defeat their enemies and start wars, the country of Egypt became a powerful and very influencial empire.

However, as time went by, the battles became more personal. Individuals would use the spirits to settle disputs over money, power, land, etc nad it wasn't long before the duels became a sign of strength and cunning. By defeating others, duelers gained experience and a feared yet respected reputation.

Many were still afraid of the monsters' power and distrusted those who abused it for their own personal gain. However, there were also those who worshipped the ground they walked on and dreamed to one day reach such a high level of achievement.

But humans almost never remain satisfied for very long. The battlers began to seek new ways to summon monsters of even greater power, thus the creation of pacts between the battlers and the summoned came about.

These pacts allowed monsters of greater strength to cross the bridge between the worlds. However, their strengths, weaknesses, and ablities were limited to them depending on who they connected with. The strength of the spirit-bond is drawn off the human bond's will power. If they could take the strain of battle without giving up or feeling doubt then their summons remained strong and powerful, despite whatever wounds they have suffered. However, if doubt, fear, or anguish settled in, then the beasts weakened, leaving them at a great disadvantage and open to attack.

Unfortunately, most people could not handle the stress and trama that the bond caused the brain and therefore very few were made. Only a a handful of people were willing to go through the suffering that such a link wrought, even if it promised much greater power because they didn't have the strength to bear it.

---

The wind was light and cool, sweeping over the heat-retaining desert sand surrounding the river Nile. A camel's loud snort burst through the overbearing silence and a dark figure appeared on the horizon. The sun was almost set, the light reflecting its final rays in the blue river water, transforming its translucent surface into a blinding yellow mirror.

The camel groaned under the weight of its passenger and continued to trudge through the hot-sand, its thick spade-like hoofs displacing its weight evenly underneath it like a good pair of snowshoes, keeping it from sinking into the loose gravel.

The purple-clad figure atop the beast snapped the reigns to attention and hissed "Faster you stupid animal! I need to get into the city before night-fall; this must see the attention of the Pharaoh!"

The camel blatantly ignored its occupant and simply kept its almost deliberately slow pace. The rider cursed under his breath and growled "I should throw your uncaring hide to the crocodiles and buy myself a horse. Expensive creatures but surely more useful than the likes of you."

"Holy Osiris...Priest Seto? That you, m'lord? Welcome back!...Erm why are ya threatening to kill that camel?"

The purple-robed priest blinked, his eyes darting to the source of the noise and exhaled. It was only a curious citizen, middle-aged and of low-class, towing a burro with a sack of freshly cut grain-stalks tied to its back; a wheat sickle was loosely clasped in the man's left hand. The priest scowled and gestured towards his unwilling mode of transportation. "I am simply agitated...I could go on foot and be at the gates within the hour...but then I would have Badru at my throat. It is his 'steed' after all and it's unwise to abandon someone else's property."

The man laughed, a friendly gesture in return for the priest's rather rude one. "Ay, stubborn brutes." He agreed, towing his ass which neighed in objection before he gave it a smarting swat to the rear. "All animals are. Yah just have to remember to put a treat in front and a reed switch in back."

"Unfortunately, camels are not like other livestock. They are not as easily swayed." Seto argued as the sun's only remaining light disappeared behind the dunes. "Great...now I'll be stuck out here in the dark."

"Don't fret, m'lord," The man assured the priest. "We'll hit the main path into the city in about...twenty meters. I can be your guide until we enter the main part of town. It's the least I can do for ya after all you've done. I mean going away from the city for nearly seven whole years...completely apart from your family and friends just to travel the country and meet with the second Pharaoh."

The man paused. "I even heard that ya received a vision from Lady Hathor herself, tellin ya the secret, the only cure for the terribly sickness that plagued the Pharaoh's son. Ya saved the Southern Kingdom's heir! Now if that ain't an achievement worth all yah hard work then I dunno what is."

The twenty-six year old priest nodded and rubbed his temple. "I guess so...but traveling even for one as young as myself takes its toll." The brunette raised his gaze to the stars above and whispered "It certainly is good to be home. I hope things haven't changed too much."

A chuckle startled Seto out of his musings. He rounded back on his guide who continued to chortle, oblivious to his actions. "M'lord...ya can't expect to return to us after seven years and expect that nothing has changed. Hell, ol' Akhenamkhanen died and set Atem on the throne while you were gone."

Seto's exotic cobalt eyes widened in utter shock as he snarled "Atem is Pharaoh? Why wasn't I informed?! Something of this magnitude of importance-" Seto cut himself off and his expression returned to its normally cool and collected demeanor. "Well...news travels rather slow and as I've been rather busy...whatever the cause for this delay...I will soon uncover."

His only response was the man's raised eyebrow and with that, the city nightlife came into view. Seto exhaled and thanked the man, signaling the end of their encounter before he rode on through to the upper-class area where the beautiful elaborate palace belonging to the Lord Pharaoh was set up in the middle of it all.

---

When Seto arrived at the gates, he was given a stranger's welcome: five spears pointed to several different vital organs. The priest sighed and removed his turban, baring his shaven skull to the guards just as their squad-leader was walking down the palace steps.

"A priest?...Lord Seto!" The man exclaimed, shoving his men to the ground as he got down to his knees and kissed the hem of Seto's purple robes. "You've returned to us at last!" His men nodded, still bent over in respect. "Shall we alert the temple? I'm sure they would love to hear of your-"

"Later; all of that can be taken care of later. I'm exhausted and still have much work to do; I also hope to bathe before I retire this evening so if you don't mind, I'd like to have an audience with Pharaoh Atem." Seto admitted with a slight yawn.

The leader nodded. "Of course m'lord! We'll escort you." His men crowded around the priest and his untrusty camel steed, removing his personal belongings with care and bringing them into the luxurious palace. The squad-leader glanced down at Seto's side pouch and began "M'lord, I can take that for you-" but Seto waved him off, clutching the pouch of papyrus scrolls tightly to his chest. "Only for the hands and eyes of the King." He stated in explanation. The man nodded and led Seto into the stone labyrinth towards one of the palace's many courtyards.

About fifty or sixty guests were milling around, some holding freshly squeezed wine while some were using their free hands to make wide sweeping gestures to empathize their words.

Needless to say, Seto was speechlessly stunned.

'I must have been away longer than I thought...Atem certainly is not sparing for the comfort of his guests.'

"Hey...the bastard really is back in town." A loud, but familiar and obnoxious voice called out over the crowd. Fortunately for Seto, it caught little attention. The priest turned around and exhaled at the sight.

The voice belonged to a tall blonde with dark brown irises, clad in a crisp clean white tunic and a matching kilt. His arms were crossed and a satisfied smirk clung to his cheeks. "It's been a while, Priest."

"Jounouchi...How pleasant to see you again. I see you've abandoned your rags and cleaned up...what a surprise."

Jou scowled at the rather low blow and added. "I see you haven't changed much." He smirked. "You've definitely still got your own cock shoved up your ass." His face lightened. It had been so long since he had seen the priest...and the gap between them still remained as vast and empty as ever.

It seemed a shame...they had once gotten along so well...at least as children.

Why did such a nice relationship need to go to waste?

Jou smiled. 'Maybe this time he'll listen. He can't have not changed, right? I shouldn't just automatically jump to the conclusion that he's still a heartless selfish prick with no soul.'

Jounouchi chuckled inwardly.

'What the hell, I'll give it a go. If I'm lucky, we can mend this and tun things back to the way they were, or at the very least be civil towards one another.'

"You're right though, Priest." He remarked with a sigh. "Times have definitely changed for me since you left. I took over my father's trading routes after he passed on into the next world and unlike him, I've saved instead of spending it all on alcohol and women. I've become quite wealthy, enough so to live a very cushy life in the city. Even got myself a cute lil' niece on the way."

Jou smiled at the thought of his younger sister, currently five months heavy with child. He turned to Seto and added proudly "I'm to be an uncle."

"Congratulations." Seto sneered cruelly. "I see the Gods have finally tossed you a steak, mutt and you intend to cling to it until you've picked it clean right to the bone." Seto smirked at the expression on his rival's face from his biting statement. "Hope you enjoy and appreciate the meal while it lasts."

Only silence filled the gap as Jou was gripped with fierce unadulterated rage.

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE I EVER DONE TO YOU, PRIEST!?" Heads turned at the yell and conversations were stifled in shock as the blonde practically exploded. "Why the hell do you continue to fight me!? We aren't enemies anymore and haven't been for years!" Jou paused in his yelling as he felt a tear trace the outline of his cheek, frustration clouding his mind. "I'm finally happy and satisfied with my life and what I've done with it and you take it and grind your fuckin heel right into it!" Jounouchi shouted shamelessly, still completely unaware of the attention he had gathered.

The turban-clad man exhaled.

"The Gods have already chosen our fates. If you're meant to be powerful, happy, and successful, then you are born into the role." He glared harshly at Jounouchi. "If you're born a street-mutt, then that is what you are, no matter how much perfume you bathe in or how much money you have at your disposal. The dirt and smell of feces will still linger on...always."

Jou was silent for a few moments after that little speech and Seto took this opportunity to make his way towards the throne, but a hand latched itself tightly onto his arm. The fist encircling his wrist was tight and shaking with restrained anger, the knuckles bone white from the pressure. Jounouchi's breath was just as shaky, his eyes downcast as he licked his lips and murmured, "I challenge you, Priest...to a Shadow Duel."

Seto rolled his cobalt eyes. "I don't have time to deal with you, Jounouchi. My dealings are with Pharaoh." He hissed, pulling out of Jou's tight clutches.

But Jounouchi wasn't quite through yet...

"Come on, Priest! You're supposed to be the best next to Pharaoh. Why not prove it? Prove to me that I was meant to lose to your pansy-ass. Show me what fate really is!" He paused mid-rant, his eyes locking onto Seto's as his teeth parted. "I know you're dying to wipe the floor with my face, Seto. You want to wipe this beautiful smirk right off my face."

Seto whirled around, outraged. "You have no right to call me by my first name. I out-rank you, peasant!" The priest growled.

"Uh-oh, he's whippin out this 'class' argument again! Better stand clear folks, you aren't worthy enough to have his high-class saliva spat on your faces." Jou shouted, making damn sure that every ear had his attention.

Seto snarled ferally as the blonde simply leered, a cheeky smirk lighting his pale face. "How dare yo-"

"Actually, I would enjoy seeing that."

The room was silent as Atem took his throne, his tri-colored spikes swaying just barely in the breeze passing through the room.

Seto glanced from Jou to his cousin and got down on one knee. "Forgive me, my Pharaoh, I was just on my way to meet with you, to discuss the drought that is plaguing the Western Nile. I have met with several colleges of mine who agree that this is a sign from Hapy-"

"Ah yes, the drought. Badru sent a messenger a few weeks prior to your arrival. No doubt that you have only the same information to relay?"

Seto exhaled smoothly. "Yes, milord. I had no idea that he had sent word prior to our audience. However there are even more pressing matters to attend to, the likes of which Badru has no knowledge."

Atem smiled genuinely and gestured towards Jounouchi. "I'm sure that they can wait until the morning rising of Ra. Unless the very kingdom was about to fall apart, I doubt that you can deny this." The regal king straightened, his face loosing its serious "So, regarding the challenge...what say you, cousin? I'm curious to see if you've retained any of your skill over these past seven long years."

Seto glanced at the awaiting crowd. It was obvious that his acceptance would greatly please Atem...

"I accept it of course, Pharaoh. It would be my honor to pulverize this whelp for your amusement."

"We'll see." Atem stated, lacing his fingers together under his chin as he leaned forward so as to get a better look. The crowd parted in front of the ruler, making a clear runway from the throne to the two males. Jou offered Seto a sheepish smile, which was not returned and muttered "So, shall we?"

Seto continued to glare at the blonde as he nodded. Jou smirked and yelled with a grand flourish "I call upon the Swordsman of the Flame."

The crowd oohed as a warrior clad in red robes appeared before the half-breed, a reddened blade clasped firmly between both hands. The priest rolled his eyes and returned Jounouchi's forwardness with "I summon the Dark Jester."

Jounouchi blinked. "That weak thing? Against my mighty warrior? Are you trying to pull a fast one on me, Priest?"

Seto simply glared, bluntly ignoring Jou's comment and added, "Now I offer the Dark Jester, a half of my current physical strength."

The clown cackled evilly before ballooning into a mammoth-sized clown, towering over Jou's swordsman. Jou gulped and tugged a bit at his shirt collar.

"Send the swordsman back to his stone-cell!"

The clown giggled in reply and threw a dark energy orb into the belly of the swordsman before Jou even had time to calculate a counter-maneuver.

The crowd ducked as dust from the mud bricks blew up from the small explosion.

Jounouchi emitted a hesitant chuckle before muttering, "How about we make this a little more interesting, ne?” his voice cracking slightly from the strain of the situation.

"Please, Jounouchi, like you have something worth betting. Besides, the outcome for this has already been decided. I can see your self-doubt clouding over your eyes like spilled ink to white papyrus."

"I'm serious, Priest."

Seto blinked, slightly confused before his cool demeanor returned. "I don't gamble, street-mutt."

"And I say you're just too scared to lose." Jou taunted, wiggling his fingers as if to represent long dead spirits. The crowd around burst into peels of laughter, which Jou lapped up happily, eager to please as always.

'Just like the filthy half-breed mutt that he is.' Seto growled inwardly.

The priest clenched his teeth and began to grind them. He would never live turning this mutt's challenge down. Truthfully, he'd rather die than live with the humiliation. At least if he lost, no one would every dare call him cowardly and the worst-case scenario, he'd lose some money. It was either agree or face public humiliation for the rest of his life. "What are the terms?" He demanded."

The exotic blonde bit his thumb in thought before he smirked, an almost demonic glint in his eyes. "Your hand."

"Lose one of my hands? And what body-part would you be losing should I win?" Seto inquired headily.

Jou snickered, covering his lips with a cupped palm. The brunette blinked. "What's so damn funny?"

"You misunderstood me, Priest..." Jou replied, locking eyes with the slightly startled Priest.

"I meant your hand...in marriage."