Chapter 3: I'll Watch Over You

What would man do if he had the power to turn back time? He would return to the past and changed his mistakes, wouldn't he?

He would change and alter his future. He would prevent the same mistakes. And he knew everything would be perfect.

But that wasn't the case.

Man has no power over time—he couldn't control it, outmaneuver it and even defeat it. Time simply is an undefeatable, fleeting period of life itself.

And that is why people have a subconscious mind that is well known as one's conscience.

It guided man, helped him make decisions and reminded him of his responsibilities to the world. It keeps him from insanity and total misery.

But it only aggravated Seth more.

So maybe he was too harsh on his cousin before. So maybe he practically ignored the other until Atemu couldn't take it anymore.

So maybe he wasn't acting like the overprotective cousin he once was and he changed drastically. He can't exactly change the way things happen, can he?

He was cruel and he knows that. He was being a jerk and he knew it from the start. But can't they understand that in such dangerous times, one should not be weak or they will be killed?

Atemu may have the right to be concerned for his safety, he is his cousin and the pharaoh after all, but that doesn't mean that he has to consent it all the time. He needs nothing of their concern, he would be fine. Why can't they see that?

Atemu was a good pharaoh, despite his quite young age, and although it was difficult for him to admit it out loud, the other would be better suited for the throne. The other was good in keeping his temper, he, on the other hand, could not.

High Priest Seth groaned in frustration as he stared at the ceiling and let his thoughts adrift. Why was he thinking about this? He should be planning on which town was to be raided next for rebels. He should be checking if everything was working as planned.

And yet, no matter how hard he tried; no matter how deadly he threatened himself to stop thinking about his cousin, he couldn't. It was as if his mind refused to obey him, and that it had chosen the subject of its thoughts.

"Damn," he muttered, wondering idly when he was going to stop thinking about the other. But all that answered him was the other's pained face as he cried out his words.

He didn't ask for Atemu's concern. He didn't ask the other to be so worried. The pharaoh should learn to prioritize the kingdom and himself first before worrying his brain out on subjects that could easily take care of themselves.

"Let's add the fact that my cousin doesn't even give a damn that I'm concerned with his welfare!"

"Let's add the fact that he doesn't even give a damn that I care about him so much to make sure that nothing happens to him!"

The other's words had hit him hard. It was true. Those words slapped him in the face the moment he heard them from Atemu.

Was he really that harsh? But then, he doesn't have to answer that, does he? He had hurt Atemu time and again. He never did care if the other was always worried because of his trademark recklessness when it comes to dealing with the rebels. He always thought the other just felt like annoying him.

But he knew he was wrong—dead wrong.

"High Priest Seth."

The mentioned priest narrowed his eyes slightly in annoyance as the door was opened to reveal an equally irritated Mahado, who was glaring at him like he was to be blamed with everything.

"What do you want, High Priest Mahado?" he asked as he stood to his full height.

"Someone has to watch over his majesty for the night. I trust that you can perform this task without hurting him?" Mahado asked, his voice laced with accusation and sarcasm that it was highly uncharacteristic for the forgiving priest.

"You don't need to ask. Although I am wondering, can you take over my post then without even letting the rebels go?" he countered mockingly as he left the priest alone and headed for his cousin's chamber.

Mahado shook his head, his anger finally radiating as he glared at nothing. Finally calming himself, he drew a long breath and then left the room with a promise to kill the other if he would ever hurt his pharaoh again.

That tantrum was fatal to the pharaoh's health. And to his utmost surprise, the healers confirmed his thoughts that the monarch's current condition was the result of continuous and uncontrollable fatigue, emotional stress and sheer burden of ruling a kingdom.

"That Seth!" he had said before when the healers answered him as he slammed his goblet down the table, "I'll kill him!" and he would, if the other hurts the king again.

It was a promise.

Silver moonlight gazed down at the noiseless room, as if encouraging him to talk to his sleeping cousin. Atemu still has a fever but that isn't something a Millennium Item can heal, right?

How long was the other sleeping? Sometimes he wished they could just return to the time when they would just enjoy life and sleep cuddled to each other at night. Sometimes, when he really thought about it, he wished the pharaoh never died and that Akunadin never appointed him as High Priest.

Seth rose from his seat beside the pharaoh and went to the balcony, which overlooked the great pyramids from a reasonable distance, watching as the moon basked him with its seemingly arousing light.

Atemu used to love looking at the night sky, he mused. The other would often stay in his room and stare at the stars and the moon for eternity until he would fall asleep in his arms.

But it wasn't too late to change, was it?

With a sigh, Seth gazed upon his sleeping cousin. The other was beautiful, he realized that. "I'm sorry," he whispered, assured that no one could hear him. He walked towards his cousin and caressed Atemu's face, feeling how smooth the skin was. How he wanted to kiss the other.

Wait, wait, wait. What the hell was he thinking? Seth groaned in annoyance. Stupid hormones, he thought. Now he's lusting over his cousin? What is wrong with him?

Dejectedly (and extremely pissed off at himself), Seth sat nearby and settled with watching the pharaoh, carefully taking note how the other would suddenly frown and roll to his side.

Another dream, he thought.

"NO SETH, WATCH OUT!"

Atemu awoke and sat up, looking around frantically. That dream looked real, merely remembering it sent shivers up his spine. That wouldn't happen in reality, he hoped.

"Go back to sleep, Atemu. It's only a dream."

Crimson eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. Was Seth really in his room or was he simply going crazy with his dreams?

"You really are stubborn, aren't you?"

That sounded like Seth, all right.

"Seth?" he asked, hoping it wasn't a dream.

"You should go to sleep, you need your rest, cousin," Seth answered, revealing himself as he sat beside his now-awake pharaoh.

"It isn't a dream then?" Atemu asked.

"No. Now go to sleep," Seth reprimanded.

Crimson eyes that once widened narrowed in suspicion, "What are you doing here?" he asked. Seth would never do this, well the older Seth wouldn't unless he wanted something.

"I didn't know cousins are prohibited to visit each other nowadays," Seth answered, "The healers said you were over fatigued. That's why you collapsed."

"You never did this to me before," Atemu said, still suspicious of his cousin's actions. What was going on? Surely this really isn't a dream?

"And I'm sorry for that," Seth replied sincerely, "Now would you please go to sleep?" he continued, his voice having no trace of the slightest annoyance. But it only confused Atemu more.

"Are you drunk, Seth?" he asked, "You rarely even talked to me like this," he added.

"Again, I'm sorry."

"Why are you doing this, Seth?" Atemu asked.

"I'm doing this because I've been such a jerk to you, cousin," Seth answered, "You never deserved any of my actions towards you."

"But—"

"No. I'm serious. I want to repay you for the things you've done to me starting tonight," Seth said.

"I don't need someone to worry over me," Atemu replied, "I'm fine."

"We'll see about that tomorrow. Now go to sleep," Seth answered, using the same tone he once used at the other when they were younger.

"What if I have nightmares?" Atemu played along, but beneath those words, he meant the truth. What's the purpose of sleeping if he would only be plagued by nightmares?

Seth smiled genuinely at his cousin and kissed the other's forehead, "Don't worry. I'll be here to wake you up," he said.

Atemu smiled back and embraced the other, not knowing the sudden reactions he was causing on his cousin, "Thank you, cousin."

The other smiled in return, "Good night, Atemu," he said.