"Why did you keep this from me?" her voice was quiet as though in shock.

"I didn't want you to hate me, Akhenaden may have been my father but he sold his soul to the shadows solely to spite his brother, Atem's father. He wanted me to join him and be the new Pharaoh; he said it was my birthright. The friend I told you about . . . died saving me from him and gave me . . . I suppose you can call it a 'Guardian Angel', a great white dragon to me to protect me and fight for me. After all the pain I'm truly ashamed to know his blood flows through me and to know that his deranged dream hurt you and your family so . . . Please Princess, please Sasami, don't hate me," he waited her response with worry.

"Why would I hate you?"

"I didn't stop him-"

"You tried Seto," her voice barely a whisper, "You at the very least tried; I can never hate you for that. The one person I hate is myself for not protecting my brother . . ." her eyes shone with new tears, "He was right in front of me, no further than you are now-"

She stopped for a moment, her voice breaking before regaining her composure.

"He was talking about the Celebration of Life and how he wanted to take part of the Dance of Creation, he was so excited when I told him he could do anything he set his heart to . . . then the skies went dark . . . it was so cold . . ." she closed her eyes and put her hands to her temples in obvious pain.

"Oh Sasami," he half whispered to himself.

"It came out of the skies like the Great Destroyer after He had lost his mind, those eyes . . . I'll never forget those terrible eyes! I told him to run," she was referring to Torn now, "To get Father, anyone to help. He struck me down as though I were nothing more than a speck, I was so ready to die, and I decided not to cry out for help or anything because I was prepared to die with dignity. Why didn't you listen to me!" she started to cry, "Why did you come back!"

The reassuring pressure of Seto's arm around her shoulders seemed to bring her out of the memory but only for an instant, she swung to look at him at cried out her story:

"He was right there in front of me . . . 'Touch my sister and I'll condemn you to the depths of oblivion', he was so brave . . . He looked back at me and I saw such strength, no fear whatsoever . . . his final words before the beast struck him down were 'I'll always protect you Sasami' then he gone . . . I couldn't speak, move or even think! I waited for it to strike me too, but it just looked to your world and vanished like a phantom! Afterwards, after the ceremony to say goodbye, everyone was consoling me, telling me I did my best and I was brave to face the beast -"

"You were," Seto's voice stopped her as gently as he could, "You were willing to die for your brother so yes, you were brave S-"

"OH STOP IT!" she shook her head and knocked him away from her, he only just managed to steady himself before she went on, "I wanted to cry, scream . . . I wanted to yell at each and every one of them 'Fools! I let my brother die; I let the beast take him! How can you call me brave and offer me love and sympathy when I do not deserve it'!"

"Why do you hold back your tears? No one would blame you for-"

"WELL THEY SHOULD!" her voice started to break between sobs, "How can I . . . be worthy of love when I didn't show Torn . . . any love! I had the chance . . . to protect him and let it be me that died, but . . ." she looked into his eyes and he saw nothing but sorrow and a terrible guilt, "I froze . . . until the day the Great Destroyer comes for me I will never . . . forgive . . ." she couldn't go on and the tears finally broke out.

All he could do for a moment was smile sadly, and then slowly taking her wrist in his hand he gently pulled her into a sitting position next to him on the white rock again. And just like before, he stayed with her not saying a word but just being there for her, but this time she couldn't stand her pain and forgetting her world's customs threw her arms around him and continued to cry into his chest.

He still smiled sadly, yet glad that she was finally able to talk about the tragedy that had befallen her and to no longer keep holding back her tears where they would obviously cause her more harm and more pain.

Not caring for the ways of his people either, he slid one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist holding her warm body to his in a gentle embrace. His warmth was nothing like she had ever experienced, and seemed to help her tears and her pain fade away.

Like before, he didn't know how long he had held for when she stopped still resting her head against his broad chest.

"I don't know why . . . but it doesn't hurt anymore. I don't know what to say to thank you Seto," she raised her head from his chest to look up at him.

"You don't have to give me thanks Sasami, you did it when you stopped keeping your pain locked away it wasn't me."

"No, I don't understand how . . . the pain was so terrible some days that I just wanted to close my eyes and never wake up again. Now? I look at you and . . . it doesn't hurt anymore."

"I'm glad I could help you Princess, and that you won't be having me beheaded anytime soon."

"Oh I intend to have you beheaded, don't worry about that."

Her tone made his eyes widen, but as he saw her start to laugh playfully she spread her wings and whipped around to hover in front of him. That melodious laugh of hers had truly captured his heart and he knew it now.

"The hour grows late, we should return," she was still hovering above the ground.

"You go on; I think I'll enjoy a brisk walk."

"Oh no! I can't leave you here; it would be my honour to take you back."

"Thank you Sasami, I think it would be safer for both of us if I walked."

"You don't trust me to carry you, do you?"

"Of course I do, but-"

"But nothing, come you!"

He barely saw her disappear from view and reappear behind him before she wrapped her arms and flared her wings wide taking them both to the air.

She flew low between the paths through the forests, he could touch the grass below him if he wanted, it was all so effortless for her and that was what made his heart stop several times!

He felt his body stop and fall softly to the ground; he looked up to see her smiling.

"No thanks necessary, I'm only happy to help a wingless human!" she laughed.

"And I'm happy humans have no wings now!" he laughed trying to stand and she hauled him to his feet with one arm. "I'm not like you Princess, I break easily."

"I find that hard to believe."

"How so?"

"You're strong, in heart and body," he saw her blush as she said the last word, "I can sense these things about others."

"I can't, but I know yours is a strong heart and you will get past this pain. As long as you want me to be, I'll be there to listen to you Princess."

"Will you . . . meet with me again Seto? Tomorrow . . . I mean tonight, in the same place you found me?"

He had to smile at her shyness.

"It would be my honour to see you again Sasami," he extended his hand and she took it, "I prey your dreams give you nothing but happiness from today onwards."

"And I prey for you as well Seto, good night," she flared her wings and was gone immediately into one of the higher rooms.

His heart sank slightly as she left his sight, but at the same time felt lighter than it ever had after speaking with her, touching her . . .

He immediately shook head to rid himself of those thoughts.

'Seto you idiot', he berated himself. 'She's a Princess of this world, and she's grieving herself. You know she would never be interested in you in that respect!'

Shaking it off he raised the Millennium Rod and with its power made it safely and silently to his own balcony, he caught a breath of her sweet scent on the wind and went to sleep that night with her the last thing on his mind as he closed his eyes and a smile in his heart.

Unknown to both Seto and Sasami, a figure had watched their encounter.

"Thank you human," she whispered softly before flying to her own suite to lay beside her husband for the night.

In Sasami's room:

Removing her royal kimono and changing into her equally luxurious pale blue night gown she lay on her bed thinking about the tall, handsome human.

Her cheeks flushed at she thought about him being handsome and tried to shake those thoughts from her mind. But the more she tried not to, the more his face, more specifically his brilliant blue eyes seemed to only appear more clearly in her mind.

'Yes he is handsome', she admitted, 'His eyes, his hair, his body-'

She blushed even more at that last thought and put her head under her pillow as though it could shield her from these thoughts, and feelings . . . it couldn't.

(In the next chapter both Sasami and Seto each receive advice from really unlikely sources!)