V.E.: Well, here we are once again. Back in Egypt and to a story that it is nowhere near the midway point. And it has been going on for some years. I don't know what that says about me.

As a reader as well as a fan fiction writer, I also read a lot on this site (admittedly the stories I like don't get updated with any real frequency so that makes me a little miffed). One of the writers I read has a lot of ongoing stories with great ideas, but doesn't really update them a lot. In fact, I think he creates stories at a more consistent pace than updating them. By contrast, one could say I update more frequently with a few ongoing stories, but I also tend to get burn out at how long they take to complete and want to try something new quite often.

I guess no writer's approach to writing is perfect.

Well, you didn't want to hear me lecture on my problems with this site and stories, just wanting to read the story I'm updating now. Better get on it.

And yes we are finally getting some Kisara and Seto time! Now please, give me a break on that.

Quote: "Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice."- Nora Roberts

Throughout her life, Kisara had run into a good number of individuals that were far from trustworthy. Growing up pretty isolated in comparison to the rest of the village, Amma Fey had taught her many things, but in dealing with the people of the village, Kisara was almost entirely on her own. The best method was to only go to the village when necessary.

After being captured by slavers, avoiding people just wasn't an option and Kisara had learned to trust her judgement on people when it came to whether or not she trusted someone. So far, it seemed like her instincts were usually spot on.

And never before had she gotten the feeling of 'this person is not to be trusted' (aside from Aknadin, though she understood the reasons for his distrust of her), then from the person standing right beside her at that moment.

"I must say Princess; I did not know you to be so…interested in magic."

Nabirye's gaze seemed to flint from the magician's practice and back to the white haired princess. Her expression was impossible to read.

Kisara gave her practiced perfect smile.

"Since my brother and I are studying together, I'll often hear a lot about the techniques Vizier Shimon is trying to teach him. Before that, Nephthys gave me a brief summary. I wouldn't call it my best subject though."

Nabirye's lips upturned in the slightest hint of smile though to Kisara it seemed to lack sincerity.

"I see…"

Ain (who was on the other side of Nabirye) spoke to the two chidingly as she pointed to about seven magicians calling seven snakes into the baskets each were holding.

"Hey, the snake exhibition is over you two!"

What the small group of young noble women were watching was a magic exhibition, with those still studying to become magicians showcasing their abilities for the Royal Court (which, unfortunately left her without Mahad and Isis as they had their own parts to play and the pharaoh thought it would be NICE to spend time with the young women her age). Most of which had been displayed had been really nice, but none of it had really wowed Kisara all that much.

In fact, there was something coming up that had her really dreading the aftermath….

Bahiti sighed.

"Oh give them a break Ain, it's not like we don't see this kind of stuff all the time during the festivals. Just because your fiancé happens to be one of the magicians in training, does not make it as interesting to us."

Ain seemed to huff, but her face was flushed red.

"Oh please! I'm just making sure that clumsy Kanebti doesn't mess up again!"

Yaminah sighed at her sister's declaration, obviously very used to it.

"You know Ain; you might want to try different ways of showing you care."

That prompted her sister to look at her incredulously.

"Like you and Pashet are an example of future wedded bliss. All he ever talks about are battle tactics."

Yaminah didn't seem at all bothered by her words.

"Considering he's going to succeed his father's position in the army soon, being obsessed with battle tactics is completely understandable. There are worse vices in a man."

Bahiti joined the discussion them, looking downtrodden.

"At least you two are engaged to guys around your ages. I'm engaged to a scribe that's almost twice my age with two daughters from his first wife."

Nabirye sighed at her friend's mood.

"Marriage is a business, Bahiti. It's all about our families building ties and strengthening things for the next generation. Wishing for anything more is senseless.'

Bahiti looked at Nabirye with some surprise.

"Is it wrong to want a little romance?"

"Romance is for peasants and musicians, not for us. We must learn to live with as much as we can in life, in our case make as much as we can with what our future husbands give us."

Yaminah looked at Nabirye like she was seeing her in a new light.

"That's very cynical Nabirye."

"It's not cynical, it's simply a practical way of thinking to the life we've been born to. Whoever my father chooses for me, at least he'll probably have a big enough estate that we need only see each other during the nights."

Kisara almost blushed as she knew what Nabirye meant by that.

Bahiti then choose to shift the focus of the conversation elsewhere.

"I wonder if Isis has been betrothed yet."

That let the white haired princess contribute to what was going on.

"No, Nephthys said that since she is a future Sacred Guardian, she is to remain unmarried so as to devote her entire life to the pharaoh."

Personally, Kisara felt it was a little unfair considering none of the other magicians or priests had such limitations, not to mention she knew what Isis and Mahad felt for each other (with the totally infuriating part being how the two seemed to continually misunderstand each other's feelings to the point in which she felt like shouting at the two "JUST KISS ALREADY!"). It was technically more of an expectation than a written rule, but in Court it might as well have been.

Ain nodded.

"Thabit was married, but his wife died before he became a Sacred Guardian. Kanebti says it makes things awkward between him and Karim."

Bahiti turned her head towards the white haired princess.

"Guess that makes things impossible for you and Mahad then, Princess?"

It took all Kisara had in her not to blush.

"Wh-what? Mahad and I are just friends!"

Bahiti seemed to look a little surprised at that as she remarked on that, the other girls (save Nabirye) also seeming to be of the same opinion.

"Oh? Bu you two seem so at ease with each other and I have never seen Mahad that comfortable around someone other than Mana and the Prince…"

Kisara felt a sigh coming on, so she headed it off and explained it as politely as she could.

"We're just friends. Really."

Nabirye commented lightly, her eyes completely fixed on the princess.

"Besides, Egypt never gives up her princesses. There's only one person Kisara could marry."

The princess felt a cold chill at that, though her expression didn't change at all. She was saved from having to respond to that statement as Ain chimed up and brought their attention elsewhere.

"Hey, the exhibition for Mahad, Bari, and Priest Seto is starting!"

If not for the fact that she knew Nabirye and other were watching her, Kisara was pretty sure already pale skin would have whitened even further. This was what she had been dreading.

Mahad and Bari on their own were not a good pair to put together. Kisara could still remember when she first saw the two duel, the belittling way that the magician in training had treated Mahad reminded her a tad too much of how she had been treated by the other children of her village when she and Amma Fay had left their little home to get closer to the other people of the village. It had been several years, but Bari did not seem to change at all, still taunting the future wielder of the Millennium Ring.

And then there was Seto. Right from the beginning, it was clear that him and Mahad did not get along. Their mutual dislike was so strange in that there didn't seem to be anything done to really motivate it. Neither of them had done something to provoke such feelings in there other, nor were they the type to hold a person's background against them. It was just as if the two had simply looked at each other the first time they met and said to themselves 'I don't like him.'

If this was how the two of them were now, Kisara was a little worried for how they would work together when Mahad became a Sacred Guardian. Now THAT would be a sight to see (for the explosion).

How Bari felt about Seto, the white haired princess didn't know, but given that Bari was well known for prizing both talent and lineage she doubted it was all that friendly in regards to the later.

With all those thoughts in mind, she watched with trepidation as the three got on to the platform in the vast courtyard (specifically constructed for this showcase), taking the positon of a triangle. Even from the distance she was observing it from, Kisara could tell that all three were taking this very seriously and had expressions of deep concentration. She wished she knew what they were thinking about and feeling (her dragon may be good at sensing magic, but human emotions she realized were a lot harder to discern even if she did sometimes get a feeling).

With the synchronized pounding of the drums, she straightened her body, recognizing the display starting.

As if moving to the beat, Bari was the first to move as he conjured small red balls of light that flickered with a fire like quality. The balls swirled around the magician, rousing the crowds interest at what he was going to do with them.

Next, Seto was the one who moved with the beat, only his balls were blue and reminded Kisara of water as they floated around him like Bari's.

Then Mahad joined into the rhythm, his yellow balls of light crackling like lightning.

For a few moments, it was just those three difference balls of light as the three magicians made them spin around in the air. Some of the different color ones crossed each other though never combined.

Then the dynamic changed as Bari seemed to chant something lowly, causing the balls of red lights to come back together and shift into the figure of a glowing red falcon. First there was one and then two until it seemed like a whole flock was flying around Bari.

It seemed like it was Seto's turn next as the blue lights came together on the platform into the ghostly blue apparition of a hippopotamus. A rather large projection on the dais, as it walked it seemed to drop droplets of water, upon hitting the stone it zinged back up like the fireflies Kisara had seen in her homeland so long ago.

Mahad was the last as his lights also came to the ground, shifting into a yellow glowing lion with a massive mane. The lion seemed to still crackle with lightning as it gave an impressive roar that could have been comparably to thunder. Though most people watching seemed utterly in awe, the young princess was probably one of the few who noticed the strain on Mahad's face.

Then the lights changed once more the lights shifted forms. The red falcons combined into one, forming a miniature version of Slifer the Sky Dragon. The blue hippopotamus seemed to spin and grew into a miniature form of Obelisk the Tormentor. The yellow lion jumped and flashed into the Winged Dragon of Ra who took to the sky. The sight of their fellow Egyptian god monster doing so seemed to stir the other two to join him in the heavens.

The sight of three glowing imitations of the Egyptian gods seemed to wow the crowd that had gathered to watch including the group Kisara was with, Ain and Yaminah being on the same page to express their feelings.

"WOW!"

Nabirye titled her head in acknowledgement.

"Quite impressive."

Bahiti sighed.

"It's things like this that makes me wish I was born a magic user. So unfair."

Kisara's eyes were also wide at the display, but she did not comment as she felt her dragon give off the feeling of being unimpressed (how her dragon would feel if facing the actual Egyptian God monsters, she really didn't want to find out). Then her eyes went to where Mahad was standing, who was sweating substantially and looked to be at his limit.

The princess chanted in her mind, seeing that Bari and Seto were doing just fine by comparison.

Please, please let it be over soon. I don't know how much more of this Mahad can take…

However, then her dragon seemed to shiver and Kisara saw that the glowing apparition of Slifer prepare to let lose a blast that would land directly where Mahad was standing.

Before she could speak to let out a warning, it seemed that the young Sacred Guardian was way ahead of her. Seto stepped in front of Mahad, pushing him to the ground and causing the Winged Dragon of Ra apparition to fade (who went down so easily partly because of exhaustion and his magic usage). Before the magician in training could ask what Seto was doing, the blue clothed priest seemed to chant something and did several hand motions, calling Obelisk to him who blocked the blast.

That seemed to shock the rest of her group (aside from Nabirye who seemed to only raise an eyebrow) as Ain leaned forward to get a better look at what just happened.

"What was that?"

Nabirye spoke calmly as her eyes narrowed at the scene.

"Something that I doubt was planned."

That seemed to be true, as on the dais below the two other god apparitions had disappeared and Mahad had gotten back on his feet. Seto seemed to be talking to Mahad, the look of contempt on the young Sacred Guardian's face said quite a bit despite Kisara being unable to hear what they were saying.

I suppose asking those two to get along is pretty much impossible, isn't it?

Then Seto turned to Bari and though his expression didn't seem as annoyed, he certainly said something to him to make Bari's expression change from annoyed to downright furious. From there, it seemed as if the two descended into something of an argument (admittedly a very one-sided one with Bari seeming to yell while Seto seemed to maintain a very neutral and almost bored expression). It seemed to go on for several minutes and eventually the Sacred Guardians made their way to the dais, but not before Bari's anger reached a boiling point and punched Seto in the nose.

BAM!

Almost everyone in the crowd winced as the blue robed priest hit the stone floor of the platform, especially Kisara who tried her best not to flinch. She had no doubts that Seto could handle himself (having heard from Mahad how the blue eyed young man had handled himself in the magic classes and Court sessions), but there were times that she really wanted to step out. Times that she really wanted to go over and talk to him even though she knew it would raise questions and probably rumors (and gods knows she had more than a few about herself going around).

But it didn't seem like standing out to help was what she needed to today as it seemed that the other priests were capable of doing so. While Aknadin and the other guardians rushed to Seto and Mahad, Rashidi seemed to be berating Bari to where Kisara could feel the man's aura of anger and displeasure from where she was standing.

Yaminah commented at that moment, the rest of the girls seeming to speechless.

"Well…that was…. unexpected."

Kisara slowly nodded, her mind whirling.

"I…have to agree with you Yaminah."

She watched Mahad being looked over by Shimon and Nephthys while Seto was helped to his feet by Aknadin before being escorted off the platform.

She wasn't entirely sure, but from a distance she thought she blood around Seto's nose.

Her heart pounded and when Bahiti tried to get her attention, it took a few times before that faded away and she heard her somewhat friend.

Kisara couldn't believe that she was doing this. She had been resolved to let things take their natural course, not to interfere, be someone truly worthy of the title of princess that was given to her and never use that influence for selfish reasons.

Yet here she was, wandering around the palace after dark, creeping quietly to the medical ward to check on Seto.

When she had heard that the young Sacred Guardian had needed to be treated for a broken nose at the medical ward and was ordered to stay there overnight (apparently, the young priest had trouble when it came to taking a break), all Kisara could think about was going to see him and making sure she was okay.

She knew that Seto would be fine, knew that the healers were more than capable of treating a broken nose and that her presence would not change a thing.

And yet….

Even though she knew this as bad idea and that if she was caught would lead to rumors which she did not need, she still wanted…no NEEDED to see he was okay. She didn't need to talk to him, she just needed to see him.

So there she was, creeping down the hallways as quietly as she could. Luckily, it didn't seem like there were that many guards in this portion of the palace. Then again, from what she had heard from Atem the guards that weren't guarding the palace were looking for the perpetrator behind the cursed flower. As of yet, there were still no leads.

Finally, she had found the ward which she had visited a few times in the past because of Atem and Mana. Taking a deep breath, the white haired girl steeled herself and walked into the ward.

It was pretty much deserted; all the beds empty save one on the far left hand corner. Slowly, she walked towards that bed with only the torches in the chamber illuminating the room and what inhabited it. Finally, she reached her destination and turned to face the person lying down on the bed.

Seto's eyes were closed as his body seemed to slump forward on the side the white haired princess was facing. One of his arms hung there limply and the other hand was grasping that arm's elbow. His breathing was even, the nose that had been broken didn't seem to be too badly scarred and would no doubt heal with magic and time.

Then the princess' eyes wandered to find several scrolls laid out on the bed and one that was open right in front of her, seeming to have been the last thing the boy had been reading before he had nodded off.

Kisara had to hold back a chuckle.

Well, he certainly doesn't waste any time. Still, I hope he doesn't run into any more problems.

Even though he and Mahad were not on good terms, Kisara still cared deeply about Seto. How could she not? If he didn't save her that night, she would never have come to the city and never would have been made a princess. She would have lived the rest of her life as a rich man's plaything or worse. Words couldn't describe what the debt of gratitude she felt to this young man.

And…if it weren't for her, Seto's village would probably still be standing and his mother would probably still be alive. What she had heard the priests talk about him only confirmed him what she long suspected. Though, would he have become a Sacred Guardian if that had been the case? She honestly didn't know.

She smiled sadly as she watched him sleep.

It must have been such a shock to you to see me here. The person responsible for your village's destruction….and I've been living in the lap of luxury while you've been struggling to get by and prove yourself.

You…must hate me. You probably wish you'd never even met me. Maybe the reason you haven't told anyone about me is that you want to use it against me later. I don't know… and I should probably be using all my power to keep you from rising further.

But still…. I care about you Seto. Even if I can never show it, I wish more than anything that you will be able to succeed and fulfill whatever your dream may be. You were the first person that ever helped me…. the first person aside from Amma to ever show me kindness.

I'll watch over you even though I will never be able to repay that debt.

With her mind clear, she smiled one more and brushed a bit of Seto's brown hair away from his closed eyes. With that, she turned to go.

But just before she could take two steps away, a force grabbed her left wrist, freezing her in place.

Her body shivered as her mind almost shut down, but was brought back by a low voice.

"Don't go."

At those words, she didn't even breath. Ever so slowly, she turned her head to find Seto awake with one arm supporting his body up while the other hand was currently gripping her wrist.

When her expression didn't change and she made no move to speak, he spoke again though much quieter as if roused from sleep.

"You're actually here."

Of all the reactions that Kisara had thought might come out, this was not it. She expected surprise, anger, confusion. Not…. this look that she honestly did not know how to describe it.

"If I let you go now; will you promise not to run?"

Her eyes widened and he hurried to explain.

"Please, I just want to talk!"

For almost a minute of silence, neither of them seemed to move. There was something going on here, something both didn't fully understand, but it was almost as if this was something that could not be stopped either way.

Finally, she spoke.

"Not here, not now. I can't stay here much longer."

"But..!"

She interrupted the priest before he could speak any further.

"Do you know the garden where the Lotus Pool is?"

He nodded, obviously not sure where she was going with this.

"Yes."

"The Feast of Wag is coming up. After the big feast when everyone is visiting their ancestors, I will be waiting there."

Then she turned to face him, their blue eyes meeting each other for the first time during this conversation.

"And I promise to talk and listen to whatever it is you want to say."

That seemed to calm Seto into agreement as he nodded.

"Okay."

"Very well then."

With that, Seto loosened the grip on the white haired princess' wrist which allowed her hand to slip out and her to walk away. Just as she started to walk away, she stopped for a moment and spoke.

"I'm…glad you're alright. Don't…push yourself too much."

Her face starting to burn, she quickly made her way to the door and out to the hallway, not glancing back once to see the young Sacred Guardian's face also flushed and staring after her long after she left the room.

V.E.: Hmmm…. not my best, probably could have done better with the descriptions, but frankly I'm just glad to finally get this chapter done. My spring break is practically over and then I really won't be able to write so much.

So yeah, finally some romance is making its way into the story. Next chapter we'll see these two really talk, but you're going to have wait for that. I really do mean it, this semester is a killer for me and this story is giving me the least amount of desire to write for it.

One last thing, I have a poll up on my page on which story to write next. You guys may not read my stories in other fandoms, but please check it out. I could use the advice.

Please make sure to review and I hope you'll all tune in for the next chapter.

See you then!