Chapter 1

"Crime"

"You will not remember what I show you now, and yet I shall awaken memory of love, and crime, and death." –Boris Karloff, "The Mummy"

Long ago in Ancient Egypt, there was a city called Thebes. Thebes was a beautiful place, in the shadow of the Great Pyramids and along the desert jewel of the Nile. It was prosperous, a true city of the living. Thebes was the pride and joy of her Pharaoh, King Onigumo I. It was the homeland of Naraku, Pharaoh's highest priest. It was the prison for Kikyo, the pharaoh's favorite wife. Every day she was painted with ink that never dried completely, so that her skin would smear should any other man touch her.

But that didn't stop love.

For she, Kikyo, was madly in love with Naraku, and he with her. Often would he go into her chambers when the pharaoh was away.

On one such night, they met yet again.

Naraku watched with hooded eyes as she padded through the great double doors. Aside from the patterns of ink, all she wore was a tiny loincloth. He speculated in that moment that perhaps Pharaoh enjoyed tormenting other men by allowing them to see so much of that beautiful body, but forbidding them to touch

In no time at all, there she was, directly in front of him.

Her breath always caught in her chest when she saw him. His long, dark hair was pulled back and the black robe and skirt of his status did little to hide his impressively sculpted torso.

Slowly, she raised a hand and brushed it through his bangs and down, alongside his face. His auburn eyes closed in bliss before opening again and staring passionately into hers. One lean arm went slowly about her waist; the other hand gently cradled her face.

"Mmm… I've missed you, Kikyo," he crooned.

She trembled lightly with pleasure. His rich voice had always done that to her. She softly placed her hands against his chest.

"It has been far too long, my love," Kikyo replied in a heated whisper.

A small smile formed on Naraku's lips before he passionately collided them with hers. Small sounds of pleasure rose from Kikyo's throat as their mouths danced together in harmony. So lost were they in their passions, that they almost didn't hear the Pharaoh knocking at the chamber door.

Slowly, the doors creaked open. Naraku's underlings, hideous varieties of low-level demons, all cowered at Onigumo's feet.

"What are you doing here?" the King asked, his voice filled with confusion and disgust.

They did not answer, nor did the Pharaoh wait for one to be given. He marched forward, deeper into the chamber. In the torchlight he quickly spotted Kikyo, kneeling at her personal shrine to Isis. She looked up at him and smiled softly.

"My lord," she said as she stood with op arms, "Welcome home. We have missed you."

The King smiled back and began to walk towards her, but paused abruptly. He raised a trembling hand to point to the side of her face.

"Who has touched you?" he asked, his voice dangerous and low.

For low and behold, along her cheekbone was a black smear of ink.

A soft footfall came from behind him. The Pharaoh turned.

"Naraku?"

Onigumo was outraged.

"How could you?" he cried, "My priest and my wife? How could you betray me this way?"

He felt a sharp pain in his back and a shout ripped from his throat. Turning, he saw Kikyo holding a bloody dagger.

"I can betray you in this way as well, my king," she said, her tone bordering on amusement.

Another sharp pain tore through him.

Naraku's red eyes stared into his, full of cold hate.

"I've longed to do this for some time, your highness," he spat.

Another stab. Then another. And another.

Onigumo fell, blood dribbling out past his lips.

Naraku's rage was still unsatisfied. He grabbed an oil lantern from Isis' shrine and threw it on the fallen pharaoh, where it shattered.

Soon the screams of a man burning alive filled the once peaceful chamber. Then, another sound.

BANG

BANG

BANG

It was the madji, the sacred bodyguards of the Pharaoh. They had heard his cries, but it was already too late. Now all they could do was apprehend his murderers.

The door was bolted shut, but Naraku and Kikyo knew they didn't have much time.

"Go!" she cried, "Naraku, please. You have to get out of here!"

"No, I won't leave you!" he protested, taking her into his arms. His minions pulled at him, trying to take him to safety. "No!" he yelled, "Get off of me!"

"Naraku, please listen to me."

Kikyo held his face in her hands. The pounding at the door was growing louder.

"I do not fear death," she said, "For I know well enough that you have the power to resurrect me."

"Kikyo…"

Naraku finally let himself be pulled away from her.

"Farewell, my love," she whispered.

"Don't be afraid!" he cried, " I will bring you back to me!"

With that, he flew off into the night and the great wooden doors fell.

Kikyo raised her knife, still wet with the pharaoh's blood. She turned to face the guards in black.

"My body is my own to command."

-And she plunged the knife into her chest.