Dear Readers. I hope that you can forgive me for my long absence from this story. I own nothing except the Oocness and the AU, and please remember that this is an AU. All characters, except those not mentioned in Manga or Anime, are not mine but the mangaka's. Sorry for not uploading sooner, moving back into college and getting a job sucked the time away.

REBIRTH

Chapter Ten: Teana

"Get your head back inside the caravan NOW!" Gram's raspy voice hissed as she pulled Teana back into the carriage.

Teana laughed, she lifted the flap separating the inside of the carriage from the teamster. She gazed in wonder as the Pharaoh's Palace loomed upon the horizon.

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a place like that, Gram!" Teana's eyes turned dreamy as she allowed her thoughts to drift.

Gram's loud snort of disgust brought Teana back to reality.

"I would rather stay a peasant than live up in that blood stained place!"

"But, just think! We could have servants take care of everything, riches from all over the world, and food that can never be found elsewhere!" Teana clasped her hands at this glorious vision.

"And people trying to kill you to gain your place. A position stained in blood and warped with curses." Gram spat on the floor, a sign to ward off evil.

Teana rolled her eyes at this declaration.

"I wouldn't mind a rich husband, Gram. I would take those riches and give them to the caravan! This way we wouldn't need to travel so much!"

Gram stared at her granddaughter, in complete disbelief.

"You think that we, children born under the One God's blessing, travelers in search of the holy home, would set roots here?! In a place that has not one, but many Gods? Settle down in this place, where heretics led their country into destruction!" Gram screeched at Teana, outraged.

Teana grimaced at these words. She had never really believed in the One God. She had never felt any relief from prayers or any protection from this One God. The rest of her caravan was different though. They felt the pull of this eternal search; they felt the peace God gave them.

Teana, not wanting to be different, had pretended to believe. She had joined the prayers, sang the holy songs, and danced to please God. Yet, regardless of everything, she could not bring herself to submit to one who she would never see or feel.

Gram had noticed this and had tried to help Teana become more in touch with the God. The dear old lady was growing more and more alarmed as she, after praying for a vision from God, had learned that Teana was to become a person of the Egyptian Faith.

The rule of their family was clear. It was follow the One God or be exiled. This was held even to the Leader of the caravan, especially to the Leader. Gram, not wanting to lose her only family, was trying to fight against fate.

"I'm sorry Gram!" Teana hastily apologized; placing a hand on her grandmother's clinched ones. Gram took in a shaky breath and smiled, sadly, at her son's only child.

"Let's find some place to rest for the night, all right my sweet doe? We are going to have to earn some more coin tomorrow before we barter for any goods."

Teana smiled, relieved that the conflict was resolved.

/

"Young MASTER!" The pale haired slave boy cried urgently, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice, his light brown eyes watery with tears. He knew, without a fragment of a doubt, that if it was learned that he had lost sight of the Crown Prince for the fifth time he would be whipped and possibly sentenced to death for his inability.

"Lost someone, little cat?" a rough baritone whispered from a dark alley.

Rio gasped and spun around, his pale skin blotchy from the rough caresses of Ra's heavy hand. The voice chuckled as a bronzed teenage boy, two years or so older then Rio, stepped out into the market street, his hair a dull white compared to Rio's pale silver.

"Bakura!" Rio hissed out. His emotional eyes switched and mixed fear, happiness, and weariness.

Bakura smirked as he watched his father's legitimate son-not that it mattered now that their whole village was dead-try to control his emotions.

"I thought-" Rio trailed off then started again, coolly, "I thought that I was the only living survivor."

"Nay, little cat," Bakura replied bleakly, "I survived, doubt anyone else did though."

Rio nodded. Bakura's smirk turned predatorily as he circled his half brother. Rio, who long learned never to leave his back open to Bakura, turned with him until his back was to the dark alley.

Bakura stalked forward, leaving Rio to scramble backwards. The older boy caged the younger against the alley wall, their bodies hidden in the darkness.

Bakura leaned his face close to Rio's, their lips almost touching.

"Miss me, brother?" Bakura purred as he slipped a leg in between Rio's own.

Rio shivered as he remembered the illicit pleasures that Bakura had started to teach him three years ago, before their village, Kul Elna, had been burned to the ground.

"RIO?" Atem's adolescent voice, still squeaky due to youth, reverberated through the market street.

Rio stiffened as he pushed himself free from the seduction Bakura was weaving. The seventeen year old slave quickly stepped into the busy street.

"Here Young Master!"

Bakura grabbed Rio's wrist, "I'll see you around little cat" then disappeared into the shadows.

Rio rubbed his wrist, the place where Bakura's firm hands had lain tingled.

Rio shook his head and turned to scold the Prince.

/

"Now when I give the signal your dancers go on stage and give the performance. The Pharaoh wishes to give celebration for the Crown Prince's birthday after all." The steward, Teana assumed the pompous bald Egyptian was the steward, wrung his hands. "Everything must be perfect! This is also part of the coming of age ceremony!" he gave a sly glance over the dancers.

Gram glared at the Egyptian and spat out "None of my girls are going to be touched by your coming of age ceremony, especially not the part where the youth must prove he can produce sperm!"

The steward shrugged, he had figured as much, though the girls, especially the short haired one, were fine in figure and pleasing on the senses.

Music and laughter drifted through the partition from courtyard to palace, the scent of desert and flowers enriched the air. Once Ra sank into the Underworld the party would move inside where the Crown Prince's coming of age ceremony continued. The party guest would eat, drink, and be entertained while the Crown Prince proved to an honored maiden and selected witness that his loins were fertile.

At the steward's urgent hand wave the dancers rushed into the courtyard, got into position. Teana, as the lead dancer, started the dance steps. Soon the crying of cords and bells carried the rhythm for the dance.

Teana felt like a goddess. The colorful thin silks that covered her brazenly gave her movements a grace that was enchanting. Her sinuous movements seduced and as it told the story of Horus's rise to the Throne. The applause that followed washed over the dancers in a warm wave. She had also caught sight of the Crown Prince and her heart quivered in delight at the strength in the youth's arms and figure. His ruby eyes seemed to see through everything and the tri color of his hair-black, gold, and ruby-appeared to merge with the golden band that held the eye of Horus. His seat was proud and solid.

She knew that she had caught the Prince's attention too, if the way his narrowed eyes watched her was any indication. Teana smiled coyly at him; if it was the Prince of Egypt then she wouldn't mind losing her virginity to him.

The Prince motioned a servant over to his seat, whispered in the silver haired boy's ear, and motioned toward Teana. The slave, for Teana saw the brand on the slave's back now, glanced her way and nodded.

"Mistress Dancer," the dancer's didn't give their names, it was easier to slip away if a name wasn't attached to a body, "Crown Prince Atem wishes for you to pour him wine and sit by him."

Before Gram could politely, but bluntly, decline, Teana had smiled warmly and nodded ascent.

Teana's smile waned as she noticed that the Crown Prince's face was blank. He didn't seem to care at all that this was his birthday and coming of age celebration.

"Did my performance not please you Prince?" Teana's voice lilted softly as she settled herself on the chair beside him.

Prince Atem grunted without sparing her a single glance. Teana felt a bit indignant. She leaned forward a bit, reaching out to touch his arm. Before Rio could warn her of the crime of touching Royalty without permission Teana had placed her fingertips lightly on his arms.

Teana stiffened as she saw images flash through her mind: a clone of the prince whose ruby has amethyst, the sad smile of his dying mother, the bright smile of the clone, the slave boy's laughing eyes as he scolded the prince, and several more.

Suddenly her powers stole her consciousness and Teana abruptly stood up. Her eyes were rolled until only the whites were seen while Teana's normally lilting voice was genderless and emotionless boomed over the music and laughter.

"WITHOUT THE OTHER HALF THE VESSEL OF HORUS IS WEAK. RUBY TO AMETHESRT. DARK TO LIGHT. TWO INTO ONE. THE DREAD SERPANT STIRS AND SENDS ITS MININONS OUT TO TEMPT OR KILL THOSE WHO HAVE POWER TO STOP IT! FIND THE HALF AND THOSE WHO ARE ABLE SHALL BE DRAWN IN. FIND THE HALF!"

Teana collapsed into the chair beside Atem. The silent crowd burst into conversation. Prince Atem watched the rise and fall of the dancing girl's unconscious chest narrowly.

'Heba' the name of his only true companion repeated itself in his mind 'HebaHebaHebaHeba'