I don't know how he did it, or why, in the face of anyone else, I would have held up better, hid the truth better than I did with him. Sekhmet had an unbiased honesty about him that I knew existed, but never experienced firsthand until today.

Until now.

I felt I had known him for years, when in fact, when he was still alive, we had barely exchanged a word. Never shared a moment that you would call a bonding between friends. We had a keen understanding between us in battle, almost a silent commute that bordered on the side of telepathy. But even that I was not able to explore, for I hadn't had the chance to fight along side him as much as I had fought against him during the Dynasty War.

Maybe, the reason why I so easily let down my guard was because we had no personal relationship together. He knew as much about my private life as I did his. I wasn't even aware he had a last name until he told me.

Maybe because he died before I got to know him, died in one of the first battles that marked the beginning of our demise, that I was so willing to bear my soul to him now.

Because I lost that opportunity once before or…

…because talking to him was like talking to a stranger who didn't need a background explanation. Someone who I shared a common history with, but was not closely tied to me.

…Yeah. I think that was it. If it was Kayura, Rowen's lover and my wife's only friend, or Cale, who was still alive and I had left behind… I don't think I would have been able to do it.

I wouldn't be able to look them in the face as Sage and tell them the truth.

Sabel

Chapter 5: Promise Among Men

By Little Ucchan

They had talked for two hours. Or rather, Sabel had.

Yes, Sabel. He didn't want to be called by his real name while he was here. Understandable, because his identity would have caused more of a stir than what would have been necessary. But Sekhmet believed it was more because, while pretending to be someone else, he was better able to block the pain.

Again, quite understandable, considering.

"Kayura will know," he had said, watching as Sabel sifted through his belongings, scattering them about on the floor to get a better inventory count.

"Is this all of it?"

Sekhmet frowned at his evasiveness, but answered, "Yes. Cale was quite upset with me."

"I can imagine." Sabel reached over to pick up a bulky manila folder, careful in his stretch not to reopen the wounds Sekhmet had taken the time to re-bandage. He set the folder on top of his lap, and turned it over for further inspection before opening it. "The armor of Halo is no longer tied to me. Kayura can't recognize my aura without it."

"I think you are underestimating her."

"You weren't able to sense who I was." Sabel pulled out the stack of papers, looking inside the envelope for a moment before reaching a hand in and pulling out a small, rectangular device sealed in bubble wrap. "Not until you knew what you were looking for. And Kayura doesn't have the ability to see into someone's mind." He pulled off the masking tape and started unwrapping the package. "True, she might find something about me familiar, but beyond that…" Inside was a device that looked similar to one of those 'Game Boys' the boy, Yulie, always carried about. "I don't think she'll find out."

The device was sleek, less bulky in its design compared to the ones the warlord had seen in the mortal realm. He doubted the handheld was used for playing games.

Sekhmet raised an eyebrow when Sabel pulled out what looked to him like a large, metal toothpick from the side of the device and touched the tip to the screen. The monitor glowed to life.

"And Sage?"

Sabel paused, staring at Sekhmet before he realized he had not called him. The blonde chuckled. "Most definitely not, since seeing yourself standing right in front of you will be the last think to cross anyone's mind." Sabel continued to gaze at the monitor, touching the screen with his pen here and there, scrolling through the numerous text and numbers as he spoke. "Rowen, maybe. Since he was my best friend, he might see the similarities. But myself?" Sabel shook his head, slipping the pen back through the side of the device and turning off the monitor. "I'm too narrow minded to consider it. Especially when I was young."

"Narrow minded isn't something I would have used to describe you."

"Defensive then," Sabel corrected good naturedly. "And prideful and hot headed." He smirked, nodding to himself. "Those were normally the three things that stopped me from seeing the truth."

Sekhmet laughed, the first time he's done so in Sabel's presence. "Well I guess your honesty carried over," the warlord commented. "Though I never thought I'd see it directed on yourself."

"Things change," Sabel shrugged, packing the device and the papers back into the manila envelope. He sealed it shut and packed it away in his bag. "Cale said the same thing. He often said I was and I was not the warrior he remembered fighting."

"Hm. So he's the only one aside from you still alive."

"Yeah," Sabel nodded solemnly, then started packing away his belongings, not saying a word after.

Sekhmet stayed at his seat, watching him, like he often did now, each movement of his meaning something different now that he knew the context of his arrival. He glanced away for a moment to bring out the picture he had placed back into the sleeve of his keikogi. Time held no meaning at that moment as he placed his palm over the center of the photo, his hand covering everyone except for the two men on either side of the photo: Sabel and Cale. None of them are alive, except for these two. Even I am not…

Sekhmet realized that he wasn't even in the photo, and since it was more of the recent ones then that meant…

"How early did I die?"

Sabel pulled away from his bag and leaned his back against the side of the bed. His eyes darted to Sekhmet's face before he looked back up at the ceiling again. He licked dry lips and sighed. "A few days after the first invasion. Kayura and the others came down to the mortal realm while you stayed behind to guard the castle."

"I see." He didn't have to say anymore.

Sabel placed the last of his belongings in his bag, snapping the knapsack close before rising to his feet and setting the bag on the bed. He reached for his trench coat. Sekhmet followed his movements with alarm. "Where are you going?"

Sabel slid on his coat, buttoning it up over his bare chest to hide his bandages, before tying his hair back. "I have to see what day it is in the Mortal realm. I can't tell from here."

"You're still wounded."

"It's important."

"I know it is." Sekhmet sighed, shaking his head. "But how do you plan on getting out? Kayura won't allow it. And you need someone to open the gate."

Sabel shouldered his bag, smiling at Sekhmet. The warlord regarded the man before him with a frustrated, yet impressed eye. Calculative.

Sekhmet ran a hand through his dark green hair, annoyed. "What would you have done if I wasn't the one who ended up interrogating you?"

"Well, luckily that didn't happen," Sabel replied, preoccupying himself with securing his sword at his waist. "So I don't see why I have to worry about it now."

Very calculative. Sekhmet sighed, rising from his seat reluctantly and stretching, getting the kinks out of his muscles for sitting so long. He handed the photo back to Sabel, who took it and slipped it back in the book Sekhmet had found it in. "You owe me a reason," he said as Sabel re-closed his bag. "And a promise you'll defend me from Kayura when she finds out."

Sabel chuckled, but nodded in agreement. "I have to make sure today isn't April 21st."

"Something happened?"

"It's the day Ryo and Cye died."

Sekhmet paused. He hadn't expected the blunt response. "Ah… You need help, then?"

"No," he smiled. "I can handle this one on my own, even with my injuries."

Sabel headed for the door, but then hesitated for a moment, thinking. "There is something you can do for me," he finally said. "The metal brace that was on my right arm when you found me. Do you still have it?"

Sekhmet nodded. "But we had to cut through it to get it off of your arm."

"Was the gun still intact?"

"Yes."

"Can I have it then?" Sabel asked. "I might need it."

Sekhmet frowned, not liking the change in his tone, or the request. He remembered the feel of that weapon when he had used his armor's swords to melt through the metal. It was unnerving to even be near it.

"What is that thing?" He narrowed his eyes at Sabel, waiting for an answer. "You're not the type to rely on a gun. What do you need it for?"

The blonde gave him an ironic smirk, as if his words triggered a recent memory in his mind. "Maybe I'll need it to kill an angel."

Dais opened his eyes, staring blankly at the wooden sliding doors in front of him. He blinked, and slouched lower in his chair in the middle of the hallway. Damn it, Sekhmet.

Even since the warlord left and came back with the strange man's belongings, Cale's been having a fit, and Kayura was even more worried than before because she was not able to tend to their injured guest. That's when he decided to keep watch, to keep Cale out, Kayura at ease, and a close eye on Sekhmet's unusual activities. Honestly, it was times like these he felt himself more of a babysitter than a warrior.

He yawned again, trying to remember when he had dozed off and not remembering being this tired when he recalled Sekhmet leaving the room again before he had fallen asleep, and the almost sour scent of lemon that followed in his wake.

Dais suddenly jumped out of his seat, realization dawning on him as he slammed the sliding door open and stormed past the waiting room straight into the bedroom.

It was empty.

He cursed under his breath, about to leave when he felt someone enter the room right after him.

In one quick turn, Dais's forearm collided against Sekhmet's chest, catching the younger man by surprise. He grabbed the front of the warlord's shirt and slammed him against the wall, his one good eye flashing dangerously. "Where is he?"

"In the mortal realm."

Dais growled and slammed Sekhmet's back against the wall again. "And you had let him through the gate!"

Sekhmet nodded.

Dais gave the man one last shove before releasing him, pacing about the room in a storm of fury. "I can't believe your audacity!" he yelled. "I had trusted your judgment on the matter, even shielded you from Kayura and Cale, and what do you do? Knock me out with one of your poisons to sneak him out of the nether realm? Just where do your loyalties lie!"

"With you," Sekhmet answered back, taking a step forward. "With Kayura!" he continued. "And with everything that we hold dear."

For a moment, Dais forgot his anger, startled by the warlord's display of emotion. "I've acted in the best interest of us all," he explained. "And though there's no proof of it, and though you have no reason to, I'm asking you to trust me, like you had done for me earlier. If just for a little while longer."

Dais shook his head, frustrated by the request. "Sekhmet…"

"Please," he begged, and once again his passion surprised Dais. "I cannot explain my actions now, but I will sometime soon. Please." Sekhmet bowed his head. "Have faith."

Dais stared at him, his lips pulled into a tight frown as he continued to struggle between his shock and his anger. Sekhmet continued to keep his head low, waiting for acknowledgement to his request.

Finally, Dais huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You're explaining this to Kayura," he said. "But I will let it slip that I had fallen asleep through my own faults."

"Thank you, Dais." He stood upright, giving the Master of Illusions a small nod of gratitude. "You will not regret this."

"I already do." Dais scratched the back of his head, irritated now that he was fully awake, even though his short sleep was induced by force. "Just don't poison me again or I'll use my scythes on you next time."

Sekhmet chuckled at the half hearted joke. "I'll remember that."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
O.O :sweatdrop: New Sabel chapter, right when I left at a cliffie on RWU… Hehehe.

Finally got this chapter nailed. -.- For some reason, I can only write Sabel chapters in one sitting. If I stop in the middle, I break my momentum and can't continue, thus rewriting the chapter over again. -.- It's annoying.

Anyway, Sage (or Sabel) is now off and about in the mortal realm. Oh the possibilities…

New RWU chapter will take a bit longer than what I had originally posted. One, because I took time off to write Sabel, and two because I believe the chapter will be a bit longer than I had originally anticipated. Be looking forward to that on the weeks to come.

Ucchan