silverbluedreams: Marik walked slowly to the meeting place, cape fluttering in the wind.  A satisfied smirk was on his face, the Sennen Rod in his right hand, and the Ankh in his back pocket.

setosgirl0: Seth had followed his pharaoh, unable to stay home, even though he knew he was forbidden from interfering. Even if he couldn't help... He had ot be there.

xCrossSoulx: Atem stood looking out over the lake the wind blowing his crimson linen cloak behind him. He was dressed in different clothing then normal this time -favoring blue and gold for his shirt, schenti and belt this time.

xCrossSoulx: He had the Puzzle around his neck and he was focused on calming his heart before this duel

silverbluedreams: The pharaoh and his servant came into his view, and his smile widened.  An audience; how nice.  The Horus Eye glowed on his forehead, violet cloak like a shadow behind him as he approached the pair.

setosgirl0: Seth narrowed his eyes, but maintained hs distance so that Atem would hopefully not know he had followed, watching his pharaoh's enemy.

xCrossSoulx: Atem didn't notice either of them for a while. He was thinking, gathering his thoughts and his powers for the duel. He had to believe that the Gods would not forsaken him for this.

silverbluedreams: He came to a stop roughly thirty feet from the pharaoh.  The temptation to simply unsheath the blade in the Rod and stab him was strong, but he chose otherwise. "Why, hello pharaoh."

xCrossSoulx: Atem closed his eyes a moment longer, the wind billowing his cloak out as he turned around and then opened his eyes to gaze at his opponent. He said nothing as he stared at him.

silverbluedreams: "How nice to see you too," Marik said mockingly.  "Did you know your submissive little servant followed you?"

setosgirl0: Seth glared and didn't move, not going to hide now that he had been outed. There was nothing wrong in having followed.

xCrossSoulx: His eyes narrowed a moment he didn't even look around or acknowledge that Seth was there. "I forbid him to interfer but I did not say he could not come."

silverbluedreams: "Well I have no arguments; I will quite enjoy having an audience when I crush you," he shrugged.  "So, are you ready to determine the terms of this duel?"

xCrossSoulx: He growled softly and then walked towards him. "Yes, I have determined the terms of the duel. I trust you brought your deck as I had asked of you..."

silverbluedreams: His left hand dipped into his pocket and pulled out his deck, holding it up to show the pharaoh.

xCrossSoulx: "Good." He bit back any snide comments he could've made. "This is the game. A one card draw. Well actually it's more of a two card draw. You will remove all trap and magic cards from your deck...

silverbluedreams: Marik's smile faded, and a look of distrust came into his eyes.  He regarded him suspiciously.

setosgirl0: Seth's arms crossed as he watched Marik's discomfort smugly.

xCrossSoulx: ....from that "deck" of trap and magic cards you will pick one card that you think will be most useful to you and the rest of the cards will be discarded.

xCrossSoulx: The monster cards we have remaining will be shuffled and we'll each pick the topmost card from the deck. That card can be equiped with the spell card you picked -should you go that route. After that point it's all a matter of who's

xCrossSoulx: monster has the most attack."

silverbluedreams: "Very well," he replied.  "But let us up the stakes of this duel."

xCrossSoulx: "Alright..."

silverbluedreams: "We each put up a Sennen Item.  The one who wins this duel gets the loser's Item."

setosgirl0: Seth's eyes narrowed. Atem had no Item ofhis own, only the Puzzle he had borrowed...

setosgirl0: However, it was a chance ot regain his Rod.

xCrossSoulx: "Fair enough."

silverbluedreams: "Deal," he grinned, slipping the Rod into a belt loop to hold out his hand to shake on it.

xCrossSoulx: He nodded and shook his hand.

setosgirl0: Seth's eyes were continually drawn back ot the Rod in Marik's pants. He wanted it...

silverbluedreams: Still smiling, Marik sorted through his deck, looking through all his magic and trap cards.  It was important to choose the right one.

xCrossSoulx: Atem went to removing his magic and traps cards intent on picking the right one himself. He looked over at Marik and wondered about his deck. If he was from this time he might have a better understanding of what it might have held

silverbluedreams: Finally after a few moments Marik came across the card he was looking for.  Smiling wickedly at the pharaoh, he kept it aside as he removed the rest of his magic and trap cards and placed them in his pocket.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes a moment at the other, then his gaze fell to the Rod. He had to get that Rod. For Seth as he should've been the one with it anyway. He blinked away his stare as he picked his card and looked around for a place

xCrossSoulx: to put the rest of his trap and magic cards. It wasn't like Egyptian clothing came with pockets.

silverbluedreams: "Perhaps next time you should dress more appropriately for a duel," he commented, shuffling his deck.

xCrossSoulx: "Shut up." He said annoyed as he looked in the direction where Seth was hiding. Perhaps...he would hold what was left of his spell and trap cards?

setosgirl0: Seth wasn't exactly hiding, he was just standing in the background, and when Atem looked at him he came forward without a word.

silverbluedreams: "Submissive like a dog.  At least you do your job well servant."

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes on Marik. "Fuck off." Then he looked at Seth and smiled. He handed him the cards he wouldn't need and then he gave his hand a squeeze. Then he shuffled his deck and narrowed his eyes on Marik

silverbluedreams: Marik merely chuckled.  Once he was satisfied that his deck was well shuffled, he slid the cards into place on his Duel Disk and waited.

setosgirl0: Seth refused to let marik's words even register, watching him coldly as he waited behind his pharaoh, wishing he could fight in his place. It was not Atem's position to be putting himself in danger this way...

xCrossSoulx: Atem smiled a little and having decided to use the modern Duel Disks instead of his own egyptian one he placed his cards into the slot and looked across at Marik. "You go first."

silverbluedreams: Marik didn't even blink. "I think I'll allow you to have the honor of going first."

xCrossSoulx: "As you wish then." Atem closed his eyes and focused hard on the cards. He knew he could summon what he needed, after all he had done so many times before in Egypt. He drew his card. Then placed it in face down attack.

xCrossSoulx: Then he played his magic card and looked back at Marik. "You're move."

silverbluedreams: He nodded, and placed his trap card face down.  Then he drew the top card, chuckled to himself and placed it in face down attack mode also.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes as if to try and see what Marik had played. "Very well then. Do you have any last words before..." His eyes flinted to the Rod. "...you give over your Rod to me?"

silverbluedreams: "Only that you should not be so assured of victory when the duel hasn't even begun," he replied.  "And I never said I was putting up the Rod."

xCrossSoulx: "The Rod is the only thing that you have of interest to me."

silverbluedreams: "But it is not the only Item I have."

xCrossSoulx: "Unless, you have the other Puzzle whatever other Item you have is of no interest to me. I want your Rod when I win."

silverbluedreams: "You are obligated to put up the Puzzle, since it is the only one you have.  But I have the Ankh and the Rod, so whichever one that is wagered is for me to choose, not you pharaoh."

setosgirl0: Seth glared. Damn it... even if Atem won the Rod would not be back in his control... What other Item did he have? His hand clenched in annoyance on Atem's cards. The.. .Ankh? What good would that do?

silverbluedreams: "But you won't be winning, so don't trouble yourself," he replied.  "Your move pharaoh."

xCrossSoulx: He narrowed his eyes. He had wanted the Rod, damnit! No he would have the Rod no matter if he had to grab it from Marik's pants or not. He felt his anger increase and the Puzzle started to latch onto that a darkness forming around

xCrossSoulx: the pharaoh

silverbluedreams: Marik could only laugh, waiting with unlimited patience for the pharaoh to make his move.

xCrossSoulx: Atem smirked as he felt the shadow powers flinting around his feet. Maybe anger was a good thing. He looked over at Marik and then flipped over his Dark Magacian. "My attack is 2500. What do you have?"

silverbluedreams: Marik watched as the Dark Magician was summoned; he wasn't surprised.  Instead he laughed out loud.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes and waited.

setosgirl0: the Dark Magician - perhaps Mahaado would be here to help the pharaoh even though he had been denied in the flesh... And there were few more powerful cards...

silverbluedreams: "Pharaoh, your little magician is about to get slaughtered," he replied.  "And I will be more than happy to do it."

xCrossSoulx: "Don't forget I still have another card on the field. So, just play your damned card already!" He growled in annoyance.

silverbluedreams: He gave a mocking bow. "Very well."  He flipped his monster card face up to reveal Horus the Black Flame Dragon LVL8.  "I have 3000 attack points pharaoh.  I'm afraid you're outgunned."

setosgirl0: ...And there was one ofhte more powerful monsters... Seth clutched the cards in heklpless worry and anger,. unable to do anything ever if he were to interfere. He hadot have faith in Atem's card now...

xCrossSoulx: "Interesting card." He flipped his other card over then. "I equip my Magician with Horn of the unicorn to increase his attack by 700 points giving him an attack of 3200."

silverbluedreams: "How sad, pharaoh," he said.  "That not even your magic card will save you.  Because I activate my face down card Spiritualism, which sends you pathetic magic card back to your hand."

xCrossSoulx: "What?!" He narrowed his eyes as he magic card vanished from the field...

setosgirl0: "You magic card should not apply," Seth pointed out from behind Atem. "You aren't playing hte game; you have no hands to send it back to.

setosgirl0: You are pitting monsters against each other in a contest of strenth, not playing a card game..." He glared at Marik.

xCrossSoulx: Atem blinked at Seth's words but he was silent

silverbluedreams: "It hardly matters servant," Marik replied.  "Because my dragon can also negate the effect of any magic cards and destroy them."

silverbluedreams: "Now my dragon, destroy the Dark Magician!"

setosgirl0: "I have a name," he snapped, but couldn't deny the dragon's effect. He could only watch helplessly.

silverbluedreams: Black energy gathered in the silver dragon's gaping jaws, and he fired directly at the magician before him.

xCrossSoulx: Atem lowered his duel disk and closed his eyes waiting for the attack to happen. He had never lost a duel before this point. Of course in his time...things had been different...He fell to his knees as the dragon's attack totally

xCrossSoulx: annilated his magaciain....

silverbluedreams: Marik laughed out loud as he watched the magician being devestated by his dragon.  When the pharaoh's side was empty, he sauntered over to the kneeling man. "You lose pharaoh.  Now hand me my prize."

setosgirl0: Seth knelt beside his pharaoh. And Bitey launched from the scenery, attacking Marik's legs.

silverbluedreams: This annoyed Marik, and he punched the dragon hard before unsheathing the blade in the Rod, holding it out in warning.

xCrossSoulx: Atem was silent. And he didn't give up the Puzzle. The darkness that had been around Atem's feet earlier in the duel started to swirl around Marik's legs...

setosgirl0: Said dragon, being fairly huge by normal pet standards and furthermore covered in thick scaly hide, didn't feel it. He growled, bunched up and ready to spring.

silverbluedreams: The Horus Eye began to glow menacingly, as did the one on his forehead. "Try it lizard, and you'll find yourself on a one-way trip to see Ryou and Malik."

silverbluedreams: He walked forward a couple more paces towards the pair. "My Puzzle, pharaoh.  I want it."

xCrossSoulx: The pharaoh laughed a little and he stood up slowly. "Maybe you'll be joining them there as well, Marik." Atem was angry and without his emotions in check the Puzzle was free to take possession of him and it did.

silverbluedreams: He snorted. "As if sending me to the Shadow Realm would trouble me.  Do you not remember, pharaoh?  I can easily return from it.  But I am not leaving without my prize."

xCrossSoulx: "And who says that this time around you'd be able to escape!" He smirked his eyes narrowing even more as darkness started to crawl along Marik's legs.

xCrossSoulx: "I could do many things here to simply finish you off. Care to try them out?"

silverbluedreams: He narrowed his eyes. "You presume to try and destroy me with something that is already a part of me?"

xCrossSoulx: "Maybe. Maybe not." He smirked. Clawed hands then grabbed at Marik's legs

setosgirl0: Seth drew back. To stand with Atem, though he was disobeying the rules, breaking the conditions of the Shadow Game? ...........Yes. "Bitey," he snapped, and the dragon launched himself while Marik was distracted by the Pharaoh.

silverbluedreams: Marik smirked before sidestepping quickly, using the Rod's power to freeze the dragon before it could strike him.  The hands still had a slight grip on them, but two could play at that game.

silverbluedreams: He began to manipulate the shadows as well, two clawed hands reaching up for the Puzzle.

xCrossSoulx: Atem glared down at the hand and smirked. "Afraid to come and get the Puzzle yourself?" He taunted as he made thos hands vanish slightly,

xCrossSoulx: though when he went to walk over the place they had been...one hand remained and it tripped him. He landed hard on his face knocking the wind out of him

silverbluedreams: Marik laughed out loud. "It seems the pharaoh should learn to watch where he steps!"

setosgirl0: Seth helped his pharaohto his feet immediately, glaring again at Marik and his frozen dragon.

xCrossSoulx: Atem pushed Seth away from him. The Puzzle reacted to this new annoyance by sending large masses of black tenticles at MArik

silverbluedreams: He raised a hand before him, shadows swirling around the pharaoh. They began to wind their way around the chains, dissolving the chain that held it.

silverbluedreams: The Rod activated, as did the Ankh, and stemmed the tenticles before they reached Marik.

xCrossSoulx: Atem tried to grab for the Puzzle before it fell to the ground.

silverbluedreams: Chains now gone, the Puzzle fell into a waiting shadow hand and disappeared from sight.  The shadows rustled around them, however, as it carried the gold object away.

xCrossSoulx: "Damnit!" He narrowed his eyes, now that he was no longer in contact with the Puzzle -his minial shadow powers were gone. He anrrowed his eyes and rushed at Marik

silverbluedreams: Eyes blazing, he called the shadows to bind the pharaoh before he could reach him. "Foolish pharaoh, very foolish."

xCrossSoulx: Atem gasped as he was bound and he narrowed his eyes on Marik.

silverbluedreams: "Aww, the poor little pharaoh lacking the power to break away?"

xCrossSoulx: He growled and pulled at the bindings

silverbluedreams: "Now, it is time to take what is mine according to our agreement," he said, summoning the shadows to bring him the Puzzle.

setosgirl0: Bitey disappeared as Seth pulled back the power sustaining him - he could not let his pharaoh be hurt, and there was only one thing he felt sure could save him...

setosgirl0: Without a though save for his pharaoh's safety, he pooled all of his energy, pulling as much out of himself as he could and channeling it

setosgirl0: because he would need every ounce of strength he possessed to do this without the extra power of the Rod. "White Dragon!" he yelledas he summoned the Blue Eyes to attack marik and save Atem.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes a little and pulled at the bindings. He was going to get out of this...he pulled and then found the bindings giving way. He would charge at Marik again...

silverbluedreams: Marik's focus on them was wavered as he looked up at the dragon summoned.  Kaiba's dragon.  He was thankful that his own was still summoned; at least they would cancel eachother.

xCrossSoulx: Atem finally broke free of the bindings and he charged at Marik, hoping to drag him to the ground...

silverbluedreams: The shadows brought the Puzzle to him, and an idea came to mind.  He held it above him. "Stop pharaoh, or I smash it!"

setosgirl0: Seth had been in the middle of ordering an attack, but at the threat he stopped dead. Atem's decision... Perhapshte drago ncould go through with the attack before hte Puzzle was destroyed... and it was only Yami's Puzzle anyway...

xCrossSoulx: Atem stopped dead in his tracks. He said nothing as he took a few steps back.

xCrossSoulx: Then the pharaoh realised that the Blue Eyes was there...wasn't that Kisara's Ka? How....?

setosgirl0: Atem was out of he way... Marik was wide open... and fuck it, it would serve Yami right if his Puzzlewas destroyed. "Attack him!" he ordered the dragon.

silverbluedreams: "Dragon, counter attack!" he shouted, but to be safe he moved from his place so as to avoid the attack.

silverbluedreams: The dragon launched an attack of its own to deflect the Blue Eyes' attack.

setosgirl0: Destroy him, hopefully... if Marik was made from the Shadows, the darkness, and the White Dragon was pure light...

setosgirl0: The Blue Eyes's attack was intercepted, and both monsters exploded, the BEWD in a flash of light that banished the shadows from the immediate area.

setosgirl0: Seth collapsed to his knees, barely conscious, hoping he had helped Atem enough with that move. Without the Shadows Marik was powerless... Right?

silverbluedreams: The black flame dragon exploded in a burst of black flame which dissolved quickly away.  Marik screamed, it hurt like he had been struck dead-on, but was still standing.

silverbluedreams: He glared angrily at Seth. "That servant, was a big mistake!  And it'll cost your pharaoh!"  Raising his hand, he threw the Puzzle to the ground and broke it into its pieces.

xCrossSoulx: He narrowed his eyes when he saw the Puzzle shattered. Then he glared at Marik and charged at him intent to do something.

silverbluedreams: Marik was slightly weak from the destruction, but he was strong enough to brace himself for a physical fight against the pharaoh."

xCrossSoulx: Atem threw a punch for his face.

silverbluedreams: He tossed his head back, the fist just barely missing him.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes and then went to wheel kick Marik in the stomach

silverbluedreams: Marik unsheathed the dagger and swung his arm out and down to thrust it into the pharaoh's leg.

xCrossSoulx: The dagger connected and he gasped as he moved back from him. He looked at the Puzzle and narrowed his eyes a bit. "Why don't you just take the Puzzle and go..."

silverbluedreams: Marik smiled sadistically as he licked the blood from the blade. "You think I want a broken trinket, pharaoh?  It's all yours."

setosgirl0: "Pharaoh!" Seth lurched to his feet. He'd failed, Atem was hurt... And now after all of that he was just going to let him take it?

setosgirl0: That was fucking it. No sex for a month. period.

xCrossSoulx: Atem turned to Seth his eyes burning in anger. "Stay where you are priest! You are out of line and will be punished accordingly!" He looked back at Marik and narrowed his eyes. Then he took another series of punches at him

silverbluedreams: Marik decided he would take his leave, and disappeared into the shadows.

silverbluedreams: "Farewell pharaoh," his voice echoed.  "Until we meet again!"

xCrossSoulx: The pharaoh narrowed his eyes "Coward!"

setosgirl0: Seth was frozen where he'd been when Atem yelled. How was he out of line here? "Pharaoh... let's go..."

xCrossSoulx: He turned and glared at Seth. "Don't tell me what to do priest!"

setosgirl0: "...I wasn't, pharaoh. There's no one left to fight here..."

xCrossSoulx: "Then go home!"

setosgirl0: "Atem, there's nothing more you can do here." He knelt ot start gathering pieces of hte shattered Puzzle.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes and placed his foot over Seth's hands. "I. Said. Go. Home!"

setosgirl0: Seth looked up at him, then stood, placing hte Puzzle pieces and cards in Atems's hands. "Yes, pharaoh," he said stiffly, and walked away, his back held rigidly.

xCrossSoulx: Atem turned on his heel and started to walk back to the apartment. Passing Seth along the way as he quickened his strides.

setosgirl0: Seth followed, reached the apartment long after Atem probably did, and entered silently.

xCrossSoulx: The pharaoh was sitting on the couch cleaning his wound and makin preparations to stich himself up.

silverbluedreams: Kisara was huddled on her bed, shaking violently.  She had felt like a knife had dug right into her soul and ripped her apart.  It had been akin to when Finn summoned her dragon against her will.

setosgirl0: Seth stood at the end of hte couch, looking at Atem. "Pharaoh?"

xCrossSoulx: "What?" He said curtly as he started to thread the needle

setosgirl0: "...Allow me to help you," he suggested. "You should see the healers."

xCrossSoulx: "No. Go see to Kisara. I'm sure she needs more help then I do."

setosgirl0: Seth frowned slightly. Why would Kisara...? His eyes widened as he realized what he had done and he turned and rushed to her room, kneeling beside her bed. "Kisara..." he murmured, as he grabbed her hand. "Can you forgive me?"

xCrossSoulx: Atem frowned as he started to slowly stitch himself up.

silverbluedreams: She flinched, trying to push herself away from him.  Tear tracks ran down her cheeks, but her tears had since dried.  Her voice was hoarse, but she managed to utter some words.

silverbluedreams: "Why, Seth?  Why did you do it?"

setosgirl0: "I'm sorry..." he murmured. Gods, what had he done? "That pharaoh was in danger... I did not think about what I was doing..." He lether hand go. She had no reason to forgive him.

xCrossSoulx: Atem narrowed his eyes as he kept working. He was so pissed not just for losing the duel but for Seth having deliberatly gone against his wishes. He wasn't supposed to have gotten himself involved. "Damnit Seth...Why..."

xCrossSoulx: the pharaoh whispered to himself as he worked

silverbluedreams: "Why couldn't you ask?  Why couldn't you call instead of rip it from me?" she questioned, her words barely audible.

xCrossSoulx: Atem finished stitching himself up adn eh stood up. Gods it hurt to stand but at least he was back here...in one piece...whole with little damage to himself just as he promised Seth he would.

setosgirl0: "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I wasn't used to it... When I called it before, in Khemet, my father had already killed you and you we by my side..." it was a poor excuse for his thoughtlessness, but hte only one he had.

silverbluedreams: She drew back all the way to the other side of the bed. "So many hurt me...I never thought one of them would be you Seth."

xCrossSoulx: Atem walked down the hall and stood outside the room listening in on the conversation.

setosgirl0: Seth bowed his head. "Nor did I," he said quietly. "I hope you will forgive me one day." He bowed his head.

silverbluedreams: "I don't know if I can," she murmured.  "I don't know if I can trust you again."

setosgirl0: "...You may be right not to." Atem would always come first to him,and if he had ot hurt her or anyoneelse ot help him... he would.

silverbluedreams: "Go away," she whispered.  "I don't want you near me right now."

xCrossSoulx: Atem frowned. All this was really his fault. If he hadn't been so foolish as to allow Marik's words to get to him.....

silverbluedreams: "And leave Maru be as well."

setosgirl0: "As you wish," he murmured, and stood up, leaving the room silently, not realizing Atem was there.

xCrossSoulx: He looked at Seth as he came out of the room. "Perhaps, you should've thought more before you did that to her." He said just as curtly as before. "You will wait in the living room. We need to talk priest."

setosgirl0: Seth glanced up at him. "Yes, pharaoh," he answered calmly, slicing through hte knot in his stomach with a blade of duty, doing as his pharaoh commanded and nothing more, waiting patiently.

xCrossSoulx: Atem walked into Kisara's room. "Do you not wish to have me near either?" He asked softly

silverbluedreams: "No, I don't," she replied, a thread of anger and pain in her voice.  "I won't see anyone except Mahaado."

xCrossSoulx: "I understand." He intoned emotionlessly and then turned out of her room without another word. Then he came back out into the living room and looked at Seth.

setosgirl0: Seth looked up at him, waiting, though he didn't kneel or anything similar, he also didn't stand.

silverbluedreams: She buried her face in the blanket and pillows, and if she had tears left she would cry them.

xCrossSoulx: "Why did you disobey my orders first off? You got yourself involved in my fight when I told you to stay out if it. Why?"

setosgirl0: "Because yu needed help, Atem. I could not let him hurt you."

xCrossSoulx: "I did not need help!"

setosgirl0: Seth said nothing.

xCrossSoulx: "You went against my orders, my wishes. You could've gotten yourself hurt or killed...you could've endagered me even more. Instead you called on Kisara's ka and have now done more harm then good."

xCrossSoulx: "You broke a promise to me. Again."

setosgirl0: "Yes," Seth said. He had done everything his pharaoh was saying... and he had failed in his mission to protect Atem anyway.

xCrossSoulx: "And you called me selfish for getting involved in this duel to begin with. And yet you were selfish as well...I fulfilled my end of the promise. I am here. Whole. Intacted. With a minor injury that was unavoidable."

setosgirl0: "Yes," Seth murmured. "Andi mine; I forgive you for calling it..." It was now himself he couldnot quite forgive,what he had done to Kisara and failedot do for Atem...

xCrossSoulx: "To be honest with you. I could care less about your forgiveness at this point, Seth." He frowned and took a few more steps towards the couch. Damn his leg hurt but not as much as the pain in his heart.

xCrossSoulx: "I know you wanted to protect me but why didn't you just stay out of it."

setosgirl0: Seth accepted Atem's anger as his due. He had failed him, disobeyed him... "I could not let you be hurt when there was anything I could doto prevent it..."

xCrossSoulx: "I should've just chained you down to the bed to prevent you from following me!" He narrowed his eyes on him. "Damnit Seth I can take care of myself!

xCrossSoulx: I am pharaoh! The morning and the evening star! The living embodiment of the gods!"

setosgirl0: He bowed his head. "Yes,pharaoh. And it is my sworn duty to protect you."

xCrossSoulx: He narrowed his eyes. "I don't want your protection, Seth."

setosgirl0: He flinched at that. "...very wel,l," he said quietly. "...Am I dismissed?"

xCrossSoulx: "No you're not." He narrowed his eyes even more. "If you had so much faith in my why did you interefere? That hurt...." He looked away from

xCrossSoulx: him registering something other then anger before the other for the first time now.

xCrossSoulx: "And don't tell me it was your duty."

setosgirl0: "...Because you had already lost. There was nothingot be lost by my interfering."

xCrossSoulx: "And there was nothing to be gained either!"

setosgirl0: "Except keeping you safe."

xCrossSoulx: "I would've been safe!"

xCrossSoulx: "I can take care of myself, how many times do I have to tell everyone this!?"'

setosgirl0: "I couldn't know that, and neither could you."

xCrossSoulx: "I knew what I was doing, Seth. I knew just how far I could go without being too foolish. You should've just let me take care of it." He walked closer to the wall and leaned against it, pale.

setosgirl0: Seth looked up as he heard his pharaoh move, and stood. "Atem," he said. "You should be resting."

xCrossSoulx: He shook his head. "I'm fine."

setosgirl0: "You've lost blood and are pale and tired. please, go to bed."

xCrossSoulx: "Not until you've been properly reprimanded for your actions." He narrowed his eyes and stood up straight once more. "Why didn't you trust me enough

xCrossSoulx: to be able to make it through the duel without resorting to what you did."

xCrossSoulx: He was starting to feel the circular pattern of his argument though and that wasn't a good thing.

setosgirl0: "you had already lost hte duel," he repeated.

xCrossSoulx: "I know that! Do you think I don't?" His anger flared again. "Things would've been fine if you hadn't interfered...The Gods were on my side...

xCrossSoulx: I may not have won but they weren't going to allow me to fall into shadows,"

setosgirl0: "Youasked why I didn't tust you enough to make it through the duel - the answer is that you <i>didn't</i> make it through the duel."

xCrossSoulx: "Stop rubbing it in, damnit!" Anger flaring even more then before. "I didn't need you to save me! I didn't even want you to save me!"

setosgirl0: "Then I apologize for having interfered," he said stffly, shoving the hurt away as he did everything else and just leaving the cold. "Iwill take any punishment you see fit to give me."

xCrossSoulx: Yes, punishment...He frowned. "Perhaps, the best punishment will be knowing that Kisara will probably never forgive you. And that I do not forgive you for breaking your promise to me."

xCrossSoulx: "Any other punishments I could offer would serve no purpose in this day and age."

setosgirl0: "As you will, pharaoh."

xCrossSoulx: "Now go on to bed..." He finished weakly.

setosgirl0: Seth said nothig and walked into the bedroom, sliding intothe bed still dressed 9as much as he was ever dressed) and stared at the wall.

xCrossSoulx: Atem made his way for the couch sitting down on it before he curled himself into a ball.

setosgirl0: (( endsplat ^^ ))