+ Author's note: Hi everyone, I'm new here. ^-^

First I have to say that I do NOT own FC or anything related to this great Anime. All belongs to the great Nakamura Takashi.

OK... Now to be honest, the FC ending didn't satisfy me much. At first it seemed reasonable because everything was finally settled; however, if you take a closer look, something is terribly left out. I mean the undying affection Sesu/Thomas has for Tina/Helga. Not everyone will agree with me, but it's a pity that the hero can never be with his love.

My points?

***

Let's start with their past life

SESU & TINA

Judging from episode 16, I believe Tina had feelings for Sesu (she actually ran everywhere just to find him right? Her calling his name was full of eagerness and emotion, which normal friends can not be)

Tina: "Sesu, Sesu~ Sesu~~" (running around the royal palace)
Maid: "Hime-sama, where are you going so early in the morning?" (out of breath calling after her)
Tina: "I'm searching for Sesu." (smiling and scampering away)

After asking the King's friend and royal advisor Goto - Sesu's father, for his whereabout, she instantly went looking for him while complaining:"Geeze...abandon me like that."

Tina was too young to understand this feeling, and at the same time she was in doubt, thinking it was only a brother-sister affection.

I can sympathize with her because I also got irritated over Sesu's over-protectiveness towards the princess. You know what? He acted like a big brother.

When she returned (or rather, rescued by Soran) from the misty forest, you can notice the way he would open his arm to hold her when she rushed into his embrace, and later cradling her all the way back to the palace, which was...about dozens of miles far. I really wonder how the little princess could go that far from home, so could it be Sesu who took her out for a secret trip and unexpectedly lost his princess?

As for Soran, you should take notice of his strangely irritated expression when Tina heard Sesu's voice, immediately jumped down from Soran's back to rush to her guardian.

Though only a child at their first meeting, Sesu vowed to protect Tina, wanted nothing but her happiness (what a romantic little prince, neh? )

It's the truth that Tina also loved him, because if she didn't, being a cheerful, tomboy and straightforward princess she herself would have never accepted their engagement, regardless of the King's will.

Soran: *pointed his sword at the fallen warrior and smiled* "Come on Sesu, you lost your concentration on the call of a woman?"

Sesu: *calmly stood up, smiling back* "No, you're wrong. She's not a woman, she's Tina."

Just her voice is enough to distract him from the friendly swordfight with Soran - while Soran, on the other hand, didn't flinch. You could tell by the irritated look he gave her when she grabbed his arm. Nobles, to him, were arrogant jerks (except the ones he considered friends)

Soran didn't love the princess 'till she openly defended him in front of those nobles. In addition, being a caring princess as she was, Tina was moved by his tragic childhood and thus tended to care for him.

Though Sesu loved Tina that much, he'd NEVER told her once. If I remember right, he just spoke his heart out in front of Soran - who was considered his best friend, right before giving his beloved princess away to him (would you gladly break own engagement with your lifelong love so that he/she could be free to go to another person?)

"Our engagement means nothing to me!! It's NOT for the King or my father's will. Soran, it's because ever since I was a child, I've devoted my life to HER!!"

Sesu did it for Tina's sake, and that also make me furious. How could a guy be so kind that he was willing to sacrifice his own feelings?

After this, Tina, being too happy and carefree to notice, seemed totally confident in her thought about the brother-sister love between Sesu and her, thus she turned to Soran and continued her childhood infatuation.

Speaking about Tina's childhood infatuation, well, for a little girl having been departed from her guardian in a misty forest, meeting someone who might be her rescuer was certainly a great bonus, notably it was actually someone with a strange appearance enough to attract her childish mind.

To be honest, if Soran didn't found her at that time, Sesu would do it eventually, considering the kind of person he is and what the princess means to him.

Unlike Sesu, Soran did showed his love to Tina clearly when he engraved her name on his left arm, which has embedded in Tina's memory ever since. Christina's embroidery, Seraphine's painting, and Helga's picture were actually a reminiscence of this moment.

I wonder if Sesu could say he loved Tina in the first place, would she reconsider her feelings? However, that will certainly lead to another unsolvable dilemma or even sadness to Tina, and he would rather die than see her tears.

For her happiness, he was the voluntary link between her and his friend, and frequently took her to Soran's place. He also encouraged her to tell the King about this matter so that she would not wait long to be with Soran. The young and fine noble was furious upon hearing Tina was engaged in an explosion at the King's quarter and didn't hesitate to give his friend a rain of iron fists (even Tina no longer was his) He showed his concerns to her anytime anyplace. Even the term "Sesu always by Tina's side" was famous among Greecians.

Every Greecian but Tina knew that lord Sesu loved his princess deeply (why would a scientist like Soreto knew such a fact as she looked at Thomas with eyes that held great admiration?), so if Tina were to end up with Soran, the kingdom might be in chaos. The trio would be in big trouble because even the king could hardly accept this. If this should happen…would Soran and Tina elope? (and WOULD Sesu help them? The answer which he stated at the end of episode 16 was clear enough: "Tina, whatever happens, I'm always by your side.")

Everything would certainly ran its course (with Tina being happy by Soran while Sesu continued to repress his feelings), if it was not for the TRAGEDY happening that day.

At the last part of episode 17, though he could sense high risks in the letter, he still respected Tina's decision and came along with her 'till the end (I loved the way he gently embraced the princess)

On that fateful day, when Tina was too afraid to notice her hand unconsciously took his, in a moment (without Tina's notice) he smiled at her as if to assure that he would protect her no matter what.

In general, if Soran is not good at showing his feelings, Sesu is good at hiding his (although he did blushed when little Tina kissed him, and his smile was evident whenever the princess launched herself into his embrace)

Nevertheless, you may notice his facial expression changed whenever someone threatened Tina or the subject of their engagement was mentioned (the Queen's unintentional statement about their wedding and Georca's sarcastic remarks: "Fool! Your precious princess was stolen by just a mere guard.") because he was acting against the King and his father's will for Tina.

Sesu gave his respect by calling the King's brother "Georca-dono" at first, but on seeing Tina's tears caused by the man, the dignified Sesu started losing his composure and turned to address him as "Bastard" as well as brandishing his sword against the superior.

He said he would protect Tina, and he did. Not only that, he also saved the Queen - her own mother (after Tina's explosion that destroyed a part of the palace)

In episode 18, though risking his life, he still came for her 3 times, and she shot him exact 3. After Tina shot him the 2nd time causing his head concussion and Soran rushed to his side to help him, Sesu didn't care about his injuries and came for her again without thinking twice. Even Soran was surprised at his friend's impulsive action. His worry for Tina's well-being was so great that he totally forgot his injuries.

Soran also bravely penetrated into Georca's castle to find Tina and Sesu. That was the first time he was in real action.

Sesu had always acted on his initiative to save Tina, which resulted in his badly wounded state.

Ironically, when Tina regained her consciousness she was in Soran's arms, which made her love for Soran deeper than ever and thus she vowed to wait for him until the end of time (it's obvious, especially after being saved by your man)

Sesu did everything just for his princess: he always caught her voice, listened to her talking, soften by her begging, and gladly sacrificed himself for her life...

"He loves her deeply and wants nothing but her happiness." - quoted from wikipedia.

...whereas she didn't hear his voice, even badly wounded him in both emotionally and physically, and she knew nothing of that.

Even so, I have to admit that Sesu was tough. There was a immeasurable strength lied dormant within this young noble who might, at first, come across as a gentleman, not a warrior.

1. He bore an emotional breakdown, but no tear was found in his eyes on that rainy day. Not only that, on his arrival, he even eavesdropped the oath Tina gave Soran and vice verse, which boiled his blood more fiercely (If you were him, could you stand such a pain?)

2. He lost so much blood, yet he was able to return to the castle on foot. You know well what happened next, he even 'delivered' a bullet straight to Soran's head and still stood after having been shot hundreds of bullets by the rebellious army. He knew he couldn't die, not until fulfilling Soran's unfinished task - sending Tina's spirit to Earth, saving Tina. He wanted to see her one last time.

I found that though he gave Tina away to Soran, Sesu didn't think he would lose her forever. One of his lines to Soran when he was badly injured: "It's useless Soran.....she is not...our Tina..anymore..." Not until Soran rescued Tina did he realize the bitter truth. As a result, when shock and confusion clouded his mind, he began showing his possession of the princess: "My Tina...", and before he shot Soran, he stated clearly: "I will NEVER give Tina's soul..to YOU!"

When selfless man turns selfish in just a twinkling, you're doomed. ^^"

Yes, everything for Tina. He knew PAIN. He just hid his true feelings well behind a cheerful mask; he was so kind that he sometimes would rather suffer alone.

Despite how it may look like Sesu gave Tina to Soran by his own will, but it wasn't true, he did it for Tina without thinking much, aside from the fact that he thought it would made her happy. He still loves her and he always does. So when emotions went out of control, even the feelings of love became thorns.

And so he unconsciously commited a horrible error out of desperation. You still couldn't blame him though. Considered the situation he was in (badly injured because of risking his life saving the princess and then watched his friend took her away), if you were him, could you stand such bitterness?

Later on, he himself (as Thomas) was the one who came to the Zone to rescue Helga-Tina (episode 26) Knowing he may lose his life in the process, his determined eyes showed no sight of regret. To my mind, Sesu's tear was not only because of his killing Soran, but also because his deed would surely lead to Tina's grief. He was so afraid of causing Tina sorrow. He suffered so much that Thomas frequently got nightmares / a bad headache or a sharp pain in his chest on a glimpse of his past life (episode 2, 8, 13, 20, 26)

Over 500 years, Sesu still couldn't forget his sin.

"I was constantly suffering inside Thomas. I couldn't become Thomas completely, because I want to apologize to you. Tina...I just want to apologize to you."

And he (with only an arm) protected her until the last moment by offering himself to Enma.

The moment he said farewell to her was the climax of the story, and maybe it was the 1st time he had ignored Tina's plead. His face remained placid, but his eyes somehow filled with subtle sadness. He said to atone for Soran's death, but in reality, he believed he had lost everything to live for after his confession. Tina would hate him. He could neither expect Tina to forgive him, nor stand seeing her sad. His only choice was to leave…never to return.

Luckily, Tina/Helga was able to make him stay...as the young Thomas.