Dedicated to Midnight Defender and his girl.

I don't own YGO OR SM.

Summary : Setsuna/Yuugi (AU) One-Shot

Time has ended for the moment of it's guardian, and a light is lost before it's half of dark can be complete.

Wayward Understanding

"Time Stop!" A voice commanded, even as the consequences set in, a soft smile etched upon her ruby lips. The world had been saved, as she watched the last few seconds of her precious life tick away. She knew not if she would return, but she had done her job as a guardian.

Garnet eyes grew tired as her power drained into that one command. Emerald hair swished one last time as she feel to a kneeling position, leaning against her talisman. "Do not mourn my passing, I am happy." She whispered to the ones crying out her name as she faded from the realm. One last happy thought filtered through her mind, then she knew no more.

"One, two, three, Anzu likes me." He sung as he picked off another blade of grass from the bench area he sat upon. Violet eyes shined with innocence, as he fiddled with the puzzle pieces before him. "Grandpa said I could do this." He remarked, as he tucked back a golden bang, his hand brushing back through his raven strands, and begin fiddling with a fuchsia tip. His tongue peeked out, as he fitted a set of pieces together. Heavy laughter, and loud crowing broke him from his concentration. Quickly he slid the pieces into his backpack and stood up with a worried expression.

"Hey look, it's the shorty kindergartner." One of the goons had spotted him, and he nibbled at the corner of his lip. He gave an ironic eye-roll even as he stood pondering his predicament. Given he knew he was short for his age, but 'kindergartner?' He sighed, and shifted his backpack to his other shoulder.

"What would Anzu admire me doing?" He mused aloud as the group of rowdy bullies came closer.

"She would want your safety." A kind voice said behind him. He glanced over to find a very pretty woman standing there. 'Anzu's got nothing on her.' He blushed at his own thought, and fully turned to face her. Absently noting how beautiful her long emerald hair looked glistening in the sun.

"Excuse...me.." He stuttered out, and she chuckled.

"You remind me of someone dear to my heart." She stated and gestured him to come with her. "Come, I'll walk you home." She spoke.

"Oh, that's okay, I don't need help." He respond. She smiled gently, and offered a hand to him.

"You misunderstood, I mean, a lady like me, needs a kind knight to escort her in town." She restated, and he nodded.

"By the way, I'm Yuugi." He greeted.

"Setsuna." She responded, he bowed hello and tucked an arm into hers, leading her away. All together ignoring the group of stunned bullies behind him.

Setsuna smiled as she watched the re-run of her first meeting with Yuugi. She had awakened in a different world with minium control of her powers, but the time-line had flashed for a second before her eyes. She adhered to it, and rushed off to the rescue of this world's main player.

For awhile, the young Yuugi was a replacement of her lost hime and her hime's future daughter, however he eventually made his own place in her heart as well. The same kindness and innocence was portrayed and Setsuna learned of his hidden courage when he face Jono, and made him a friend instead. She watch him complete the puzzle and gain his other companion, and then the odd feelings started. She normally didn't mind the hitch-hiking pharaoh's spirit, or Yuugi's infatuation with the brunette Anzu. However, she began feeling possessive of the young male, and she passed it off as wanting to keep him as she had kept in circle with her hime. Ignoring the bouts of jealously, she continued guiding and listening to the Yuugi even when he felt he couldn't confine in his other spirit, Yami.

However, the name now brought a sardonic anger, and she fear it maybe to late. She knew the real name of the forgotten pharaoh, and who Anzu was really thinking of whenever she glanced at Yuugi like he wanted. Yet, she couldn't tear Yuugi's heart apart with this information, and it was this thought which had brought Setsuna to her latest understanding. In some wayward way, she had fallen in love with the strong youth who now stood at her door with sorrowful eyes.

"Come in Yu." She ushered and lead him to a couch in her living room. Over her stay in this world she had accumulated prestige and a good living. "What is the matter?" She asked, as she handed him a cup of tea and sat beside him.

"Sets, do you hate me?" He asked, his large violets staring at her with such a torn look. 'Hate you, never.' She whispered in mind but turned a worried glanced toward him.

"Yu, I don't hate you, now what's wrong?" She inquired.

"He kissed her, and she wanted it." He spoke, and Setsuna had already filled in the blanks.

When the HE, also known as Yami returned from memory world, both he and Yuugi had been separated. Now in separate bodies they were stated as brother's with a little help from Setsuna's powers. The HER was Anzu, her precious Yu's crush.

"Oh Yu." She whispered while enfolding him into an embrace. The problem was Anzu had been dating Yuugi to get close to Yami, and Yuugi had just found out. Yuugi had still retained his innocence even after he grew through all of his trials.

"I'm hurt Setsuna, but I can't hate or fault them." He told her, and she couldn't help the tender gaze that escaped her. Yuugi couldn't let his pain go, because it was fresh, and because he didn't suffer from the darker emotions. "I should of known she like him, always him." Yuugi whispered brokenly into her shoulder.

"Shh, Yu, I like you, not him." Setsuna whispered lifting his teary eyes from her shoulder and looking into his.

"You are the only one Sets, I'm even convinced the others like him better, he's a better duelist, a braver friend, and..and" He kept listing, but she shushed him with a finger to his lips.

"No, you are their friend, not him" She spoke, and hugged him tighter.

"But..but." He began, but she couldn't stand him defacing his wonderful personality. She gently kissed him to quiet, and then pulled away ashamed at her actions while he was in pain.

"He's worth ten of you." She stated and then turned away. She had just ruined what she cared for, and a tugged at her conscious had her form fluctuating to her senshi form. "Be strong Yu, for you will have happiness, because you deserve it." Pluto softly told him with her eyes closed and she knew she was fading before him. "I will shelter you always." She said and faded from the realm, back to her misty home. A tear slipped past her defenses as she looked back on him. He was immobile still, quickly she wrote a letter and sent it to him before turning away from that dimension forever. For her duty had come again, and she did not want to deal with her guilt. Setsuna did not see the following scene.

"Why didn't you tell me Setsuna?" Yuugi questioned to the empty room after he read the letter. "I may of been infatuated with Anzu, but I had always cared for you." He stated to the room. Yuugi raised a curious finger to his lips to still feel the wondrous tingle upon them. "You tell me now, and I cannot respond." Yuugi whispered. "Will I ever have the happiness you promised?" He asked. "No, not without you, my quiet guardian." He said and walked out, keeping the key to the home in his pocket. "I'll wait for you." he promised.

Setsuna bowed to the woman on the throne. "Setsuna, I have always trusted you, and I had hoped it would be reciprocal." The woman spoke.

"What do you mean my Queen?" She asked.

"You have been unhappy since you return those five years ago." The queen told her. "Now what is it that ill's you my friend?" She inquired.

"My queen, it is my heart, for it is not in my possession." Setsuna answered. "Now please may I leave?" Setsuna asked. The queen nodded and smiled sadly at her. Setsuna turned and walked off, while her eyes watered. "Yuugi." She whispered and the queen caught the whispered name. Raising her jeweled power source, she made one tiny little wish. A tri-colored young male appeared before the queen and she woke the male up.

"Are you the one called Yuugi?" The queen asked. Yuugi nodded to what he thought was a dream. "Are you Setsuna's Yuugi?" She asked. Yuugi blinked at the dream in confusion, his heart twisted in his throat.

"Why do you torture me, I miss her." Yuugi spoke. The queen nodded with a small smile and gave him directions to a room. He walked as he was told and came to a door with an engraved elongated "P," gently he opened it. His eyes fell upon the softly crying woman on the bed.

"Setsuna?" He ventured.

"Please, no more, no more teasing memories." She offered back. Yuugi with his conformation, walked right up to the bed and sat down upon it. Gently, but swiftly he flipped Setsuna up and toward him into an embrace.

"Setsuna, why did you never tell me?" He inquired as his violet eyes stared into hers. "Why did you take my heart with you?" He added. Setsuna blinked and buried into the now, nicely developed young male's shoulder.

"Because of my duty, I am so sorry Yu." She answered him

"Oh Setsuna, I understand." He told her. "In some strange way, I understand." He repeated. Setsuna turned her full attention to him. "Just don't ever do it again, I love you." He spoke, and welcomed the happy hug that was given.

"I understand." she parroted. The two stayed through the night hugging.

As promised Setsuna/Yuugi. Hope you enjoy. Please review,

Much Care,

WolfchildBlazer.