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Nedjem Bit	By : sakata Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3720 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
Nedjem Bit
(Sweet Honey)
by Sakata Ri Houjun

*chapter 4

Rating: R

Pairings: Seth/Kasiya [Seto/Jou] Mentions of other pairings will spring up
throughout.

Spoilers: Egyptian Arc only [Very slightly]

Disclaimer: Ha. Ha. Ha. No.

Warning: Yaoi and use of ancient Egyptian deities.

AN: I had gotten serious flack for choosing to use the name
�Seth� instead of �Seto� or �Set�. It
is common knowledge that Takahashi named Seto after the Egyptian god Set. And though while a Hebrew name in origin,
Seth is another name for Set. This
chapter is the reason why I chose to use Seth in my fic.
You are about to read a ritual dedicated to the god
Set. Throughout which, Seth will invoke
his god�s name numerous times, so I decided from the beginning that I wanted to
avoid confusion at this part of the story while keeping the feel of this
ancient culture free of Japanese influence, i.e. � the original names.
Also, Kasiya is about to have the beginnings of his first
dynamic personality shift, another point of complaint from reviewers. No, he isn�t as entirely broken as you
assumed him to be, especially considering that he was first spotted running
away from his abuser.

Summary: In the aftermath of what almost was, Seth
disappears for a prolonged period of time, while a festival underway entices
Kasiya to explore.

-+-+-+-

Time had passed in an unending dazzling display of silent
days alone, just as always. Trapped
within his self-imposed shell, the blonde only saw Seth in passing, the priest
breezing through with barely a glance tossed his way. Yet Kasiya felt the void left behind from the lack of candlelit
nights held close to the High Priest.
Seth certainly never brought up that night, or of what almost transpired
between himself and Kasiya, acting as though it never happened.

When this behavior first manifested itself, Kasiya was quick
to blame himself, certain that whatever had created a barrier between them was
of his fault. But as the week
continued, the pattern remained steadfast and the initial worry dissolved into
an avid curiosity as he began to take notice of unusual activity beyond Seth�s
balcony. Outside in the sun-lit ens ens
great banners of turquoise and black were draped over archways, creating an
almost solemn atmosphere in comparison to the liveliness of the servants who
ran about in a bustle of activity.

He had seen such goings-on before, out among the streets in
the surrounding city during certain times of the year. The palace household was preparing for a
feast of tribute to one of the great and many gods that looked after the empire
and beyond. He stared at the two somber
colors, mind working quickly to remember which god was being celebrated in the
coming future, but whomever it might be apparently had to have been the very
deity that Seth served. Why else would
he be absent without much notice?

An awakening sense of excitement beat through his heart at
the thought of being able to witness such grand festivities within the
palace. Kasiya had only been privy to
such occasions from under his father�s watchful stare, able to observe and
nothing more. He could find no joy in
singing songs of praise for the patron gods and goddesses, nor could partake of
the energetic dances that lasted through the night.

A smile pulled at his mouth, the sensation alien, yet for
the first time in his short life he felt as gh hgh he might be able to enjoy
freedoms long denied him in the past.
From beyond the garden walls, he could hear the welcoming chants, the
discordant jangle of sistrums adding to the bright noise. Eager to view more, Kasiya ventured to the
edge of the balcony, body stretched to its limit in an effort to see the
activity beyond the walls.

A stone figure sat perched upon an elaborate bark, the
weight bea dow down on several richly dressed men. Kasiya watched in rapt fascination at the procession, the
priests carrying their god through the streets to the adulation of the
people. The god itself remained unknown
because two young acolytes carried billowing feathers that shrouded the visage
from the view of the common man. And at
the head of the procession, leading the way through the glorifying mob was
Seth, erect and stern as he led the way for his god, pristine white linen
billowing around him like an aura of power.

Kasiya�s heart leapt at the regal sight of his savior,
witnessing a part of the Hem-Netjer-Tepey he�d only seen briefly once � the day
he had run into the taller man in an attempted escape from his father. His eyes hed,hed, bright and elated as he
followed the procession through the narrow streets until the buildings blocked
them from view. Even though people
continued to celebrate in the wake of the pageant, still singing and creating a
grand noise of praise, Kasiya knew that he wanted to see Seth again, wanted to
watch him as he preformed his appointed task.

Decision made, the blonde immediately spun on his bare feet
and hurried to the doors, no room beyond his excitement to allow any of his old
fears to cloud his mind. Long legs
carried him quickly through the passageways, weaving between passing servants
with an agile ease that he had gained from all the times of previous flights of
escape from his father. Briefly he
caught sight of Aziza who was carrying a gilded platter of sliced fruit -
melons, grapes, and a few other exotic pieces he could not name. Her Nile-blue eyes widened at his
appearance, certainly more than shocked that the quiet youth she had been
tending to at Seth�s command was freely running about as though he had the
scourge of the underworld on his heels.

Kasiya�s face burned with warmth as he continued on his way,
gaingeingering a bit more than necessary on the dark-haired servant. But she tarried back to her task and his
eyes turned back to the fore in order to pick his way through the gleaming
alabaster corridors. And it was with a
dread that weighed heavily in the pit of his sch dch did Kasiya realize that
apart from his arrival to the palace at Seth�s heels, he never ventured beyond
to explore his new home. And besides
the inlaid patterns along the smooth floor that was kept meticulously clean by
servants, he could not even begin to tell where he was or which way to turn in
order eholehold the proceedings he was keen to watch.
>
It was this very overwhelmed look in those golden eyes that
caught the attention of one dark-skinned man as he passed through the bustle of
attendants. With silent strength that
did little to reveal the true power that lay within his frame, he approached
what he assumed was a servant, one who forgot what his chore was in preparation
of this holy day and became lost. It
was a moment longer before Kasiya took notice of this approaching stranger,
heart palpitating in the wake of all the memories, the ones that Seth had been
so adamant on banishing.

The man towered over him, as tall as or perhaps taller, than
Seth. But unlike the slender priest,
this man was thick with muscle; skin a distinctly darker shade of bronze. Dark eyes looked him over with interest from
beneath the fringe of pure black hair, as though attempting to weigh him by
sight alone. Kasiya was about to take a
step backwards, to put more distance between them but the glinting of gold from
one hand caught his attention.

Almost instantly, a certain type of calm poured through his
heart like the crawling invasive smoke of incense as his gaze beheld a golden
object that wasn�t unlike the scepter that Seth carried. The gleaming scales were even etched with
the same symbolic eye that he realized must be a powerful glyph. And like the soft-spoken priest that had
interrupted them a week prior, this too must have been one of Seth�s
companions, another priest. Never mind
that this one, for sake of appearances, looked as though he�d be commanding an
army rather than holding sigil at a temple.

And indeed, the Netjer Karim watched as the young man before
him figured out that he was as far from an enemy as far as Geb is kept from Nut
[1]. He felt the power from his Scales
flare up, the metal gleaming as though the sunlight had caressed it, and gazed
at the willowy youth with his second sight.
He could see the blonde�s initial fear beating like a visible heartbeat
and watched the apprehension transform into a tentative trust � a power he had
gained from the Item he carried without having to fully call upon his goddess
[2].

He finally spoke, voice deep and strong. �Whom do you serve?� The second sight did not gain him access to
thoughts or memories; only the feel of the other�s soul, the weight of present
emotions.
o:p>
Kasiya�s gaze flickered about nervously before he answered. �I. . .belong to the Hem-Netjer-Tepey.�

�So this is the one. . .� he thought as his head bobbed in
affirmation, realizing that this was the servant both Shimon and Shadi spoke
of. And Karim understood that it was
also the reason the poor boy looked so lost and confused. A servant barely in the palace through four
turns of the moon and it was without a doubt that he would of course be
overwhelmed. �Do you seek your master?�

The blonde nodded, hands clenched into fists at his sides to
quell the trembling. �He�s been missing
for a while and. . .� He could not
admit what had been troubling him so.
One did not go about revealing to strangers the intimacies shared in the
bedroom, or lack thereof. Especially to
peers. He felt heat light upon his
cheeks and averted his eyes, realizing his social gaffe.

But Karim understood, motioning for the blonde servant to
follow him through the halls. And the
boy trailed him like an abused pet, head angled towards the floor
dejectedly. Karim spared him one last
look before turning his attention forward, leading the youth to the place he
knew he wished to go. �You know that
today is a celebration of one of our glorious deities?� He received no answer, nor had he expected
to. He continued, �Each of us that is
chosen by our Per-a�a to be a part of his counsel has already been chosen by a
god or goddess to head their temple and oversee their holy days.�

The noise surrounding them had begun to swell, growing in
joyous intensity as Karim turned a corner, an elaborate archway looming ahead,
draped in the same colors that decorated the courtyard outside. �But to prepare for those days, one must be
pure so as to dedicate themselves correctly to their deity.�

The dark-haired priest stopped long enough to lay one strong
hand against the servant�s back. This
caused Kasiya to glance up in confusion before he was guided through the throng
of celebrators, the priest remaining close by.
Those gathered parted at Karim�s imposing appearance, leaving space for
the pair at the edge of dais. The crowd
was not immense, mostly dignitaries and nobles who had come out of necessity
and tradition, and their servants who took this sort of event more
seriously. And of course, from high
above those gathered, surrounded by guards at a point of power sat the
Pharaoh.

Karim nodded at his sovereign before his dark gaze shifted,
seeking the slender man that stood nearby.
In a stolen moment, the Scales Keeper was lost in the blue of the
other�s eyes, as though staring up into a clear sky at the first break of
morning [3]. His fellow priest smiled
back before turning to the Pharaoh, the Ring about his neck jingling as he bent
over to whisper something in his ear.

Karim�s heart thrummed in his chest as he returned his
attention to the servant he had aided, speaking in a voice that only Kasiya
could hear as they stared at a prepared altar, everything lain out in wait for
the arrival of the celebrated god and his priests. �Today, we celebrate Set, the very god your master serves and is
named for.�

And as though right on cue there came the rhythmic striking
of drums from beyond the room, growing steadily louder as the crowd hushed in
reverence � quite the contrast from the joyous commoners in the streets. Then Seth entered, his body draped in gleaming
white linen, his regalia and headdress proclaiming his station proudly as he
led the procession towards the altar.
The smoke of incense filled the air as Seth�s subordinates carried Set�s
hidden effigy to a place of honor, feathers concealing its stony visage.

As the crowd watched under the constant throb of drums, the
Hem-Netjer-Tepey picked up a dark bottle from the altar, a prayer upon his lips
as he lifted it for all to see. His
movements were practiced yet done earnestly as though serving his god was his
only true purpose. A lower-ranking
priest approached Seth his head bowed, accepting the bottle and climbing the
dais that Set rested upon. He uncorked
the bottle, pouring the thick contents over the representation of the dark
god. It ran in red rivulets, sliding
through the carved creases of its form, making it appear as though the stone
were bleeding.

The Hem-Netjer-Tepey lit fresh incense after removing his
headdress, chestnut hair gleaming with oil as he turned where he stood to lay it
at Set�s feet. And before the eyes of
all, servant and noble, fellow priest and Pharaoh, the normally proud Seth
kneeled, prostrating himself before his god.
And his voice came, strong and sure above the throb of the drums. �Lord of the Northern Sky, Lord of the Red
Land, Lord of Beasts, Killer of Kings, Lord of Woes, Great of Strength in the
Barque of Millions and Taker of the Seed of Ra. . .�

And he spoke, invoking each name and title that belonged
solely to the god Set. Kasiya stood
impressed as the list grew, the one who held him gently at night speaking so
concisely, never pausing as he called forth his deity. The blonde himself never had a god or
goddess he prayed to specifically, only asking from time to time to whomever
would listen to take away his pain or save him from his fate. He felt humbled in the presence of a true
believer, of one who took his task seriously and did not fill the air with idle
pleas.

When the last name was invoked, and the air hung thick with
power and anticipation, Seth lifted his head, both hands reaching to touch the
feet of his god, fingers sliding against the red liquid that pooled there,
leaving thick smears against flesh and stone.
And he spoke a new prayer, one of affirmation and dedication, voice
solemn as though his life were forfeit should this be a lie.

�I,
Hem-Netjer-Tepey Seth, affirm that in this year I have served Set with my heart
and actions, and that for all that I have done, though I seek no reward for
myself, still I have been rewarded. I have been rewarded with the recognition of my elders, with the respect of my
peers, and with the obedience of those less favored than I. I affirm that I
have no cause to resent my treatment from above, or from below, and that I have
given no such cause to those below or above. I have achieved my station through
my efforts, and my station befits my achievements. I have given no cause for
any to think that I have outreached my ability, nor have any given me cause to
believe that just station has been denied me.

�I am where I am,
where I should be. Where Set wills me to be.�

The crowd held its
breath, waiting to see if the dark god would strike this one as an infidel, for
if the oath was spoken untrue it would earn a blasphemer�s death. But there came no response from the statue
that lay masked in the protective shadows that hid its face. Taking this as a sign of acceptance from
Set, the Hem-Netjer-Tepey rose from his position, washing his hands in a basin
of water that turned red from the ointment, lifted up for his benefit by one of
the other priests.

It was then that
Seth turned to the crowd, as though daring any to question his position, his
faith. Kasiya balked at the sight of
those blue eyes, intense and fairly glowing, challenging. And when that gaze finally affixed itself
upon him, he felt his heart freeze in fear of this man who had shared his bed
and offered him warmth at night. And
Kasiya turned and fled.

-+-+-+-

Translations:
[1] Geb and Nut were twins the parents of Set (among other
gods) and legend is that they would not stop copulating to where Shu separated
them, turning Nut into the sky and Geb ithe the earth � i.e. �as far as the sky
is from the earth�.
[2] Ma�at, beloved of Set (though that doesn�t mean that
Karim has any relationship with Seth) and owner of the feather used to weigh
the heart.
[3] His eyes are tawny brown/gray/hazel in the anime. But for the sake of the friend who wanted a
mention of Mahaado/Karim, she preferred his Black Magician blue eyes.

Notes about the ceremony:
Set
was viewed by his followers with absolute awe and reverence. The statues of
Set, which resided in the main shrine of his temple were almost always very
old. A larger temple would havd mad many statues of the dark god, and when
founding a new temple, the main temple would transfer an older secondary statue
and have it replaced, instead of creating and dedicating a brand new one.
Whether this meant that the statue became somehow imbued with a measure of the
presence of the priests who have worshipped at it over the years, or whether
the dark god truly did manifest through his image, the great statues of Set had
about them a near tangible aura of majesty and menace, impressing a sense of
the dark god�s power on all who saw them.

The Affirmation was a ceremony performed each
year in early Thuthi [July 13th], at the beginning of the season of Akhet. The Affirmation created a sense of divine
order within the ranks of the temple, but had no direct mechanical effect. This observance was used to reassert the
hierarchy of the temple and also the hierarchy of each individual temple, a
celebration of sorts that spanned several nights. The Statue of Set is brought out of his house and paraded around
its bounds on the shoulders of his congregation.

As
well as being a dread master however, Set was regarded with considerable
adoration, and indeed affection. The dark god was not some oppressive tyrant
who would crush anyone who fails him in the slightest way. He was a great and
noble king-in-exile, whose openness and trust was once abused, to his ultimate
loss. If he seemed harsh, it was because although he loved his followers, he
feared to be hurt again. Set himself was a corrupter now, but he was not and
never has been corrupt.

Set
was also a god of storms, of the desert, of all foreign lands. He was master of
the beasts of the desert, and associated with the hippopotamus, the crocodile,
and with any other animals harmful to man. He was all foreign gods, or perhaps
rather, all foreign gods were he. With his favor came victory over foreign
powers, with his enmity came ruin and conquest. His domain, while less
important to the Egyptians than the Nile Valley, was the most expansive of any
god.

To
prepare for the investment, the priests spent a full week of ten days in prayer
and meditation in the presence of the Dark God. They purified themselves with
fasting and ablutions, washing thoroughly twice each night. In the full procession, and within the
temple, Set�s followers dressed in the full ceremonial regalia of white robes,
a multitude of amulets and adornments, and great and impressive headdresses.

Once the parade returned to the central
shrine, Priests made their affirmation before the great statue of Set anointed
with a mixture of precious oils and the blood, dedicating their souls to the
service of Set for all eternity.

During the Festival, each worshipper,
beginning with the High Priest and working on down the hierarchy, placed his
hand upon the statue of Set and called upon Set in all his forms and titles.
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