Kindness and Affection

Atem and Seto stood on the palace balcony to spend some quality time together. They were still best friends to each other and could talk about anything personal as well as share secrets. Needless to say that they were brothers to each other. It had been that way since they were children and it remained that way now. They even spoke to each other like they were brothers when they were alone together.

Seto smiles and tells Atem, "I'm very delighted to hear the news that you and your wife are expecting your first child, my king, but are you sure you are ready for this?"

"I'm certain," he answered. "I know it will be new to the both of us, but I told Mystery we would be ready for anything we would have to face."

"Well then," Seto was saying, "You have my blessing." Seto still treated Atem like he was his little brother and felt like he was responsible for his safety and happiness. Of course, he was being honest when he told the pharaoh how happy he was. "And I promise you, I will be beside you." Seto's devotion to his family had not changed since he moved into the palace. And although he didn't care to admit it, he was mostly doing it for the love he had for them. He loved his family very much and would do anything to take care of them.

Atem faces Seto and tells him gratefully, "That means so much to me. Thank you, Seto."

"Of course," he told him. "I promised you I would always be there for you as your guardian, your friend, and your brother." Then tears start to fill his eyes. "As I mentioned before as a child, Pharaoh, you're my family."

Even Atem felt like he was about to cry. "I've always considered you my brother as well." Then they both hug each other. He truly did even though he didn't know what it was that made Seto different from the rest of their friends. Atem also knew it wasn't just because those two had more in common than they realized. All that mattered to the both of them was their bond as friends and as brothers.

Late at night, Seto went to the palace courtyard by himself. He leaned against the wall, sat down, removed his hat, and looked at the stars. Watching them in the sky, he pictured the faces of the king and queen looking at him. As if they were there, Seto smiled back. He soon started wondering what the new member of the family would look like once she was born. Perhaps she would have her mother's eyes and hair in many colors like her father. One thing was for certain, Seto couldn't wait to meet her. And just as he promised Atem he would always take care of him, he would do the same for the rest of their family. Soon memories of his childhood started flashing before his eyes. He recalled the fun he shared with everybody and the lessons he learned with them and the adventures they had together.

I'm your big brother, Pharaoh, Seto wondered, I'm supposed to take care of you and protect you. And I promise I'll help take care of your child as well.

Joseph approached Seto with a candle in his hand. "Hey, Master Seto," he was asking, "What are you doing out here all by yourself at this hour?"

Seto came to his senses. "Oh, good evening, Joseph."

Joseph soon apologized. He remembered that for Seto to be by himself usually meant something was on his mind. "Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have interrupted you while you were-"

Surprisingly, Seto didn't feel like scolding Joseph for interrupting his thoughts. He instead forgave him. "No, that's all right." He moved a little further to his right. "Here, sit with me."

Even Joseph seemed a little surprised. Seto didn't usually ask for companionship from him. Normally, the two would only be together to make mischief or just have fun. They rarely had conversations as friends. Nonetheless, Joseph sat down and placed the candle close to his feet. "Is there something you want to share, Master?"

"What do you mean?"

Joseph chuckled. "Come on, Seto. You and I have been friends for ten years. You can't hide anything from me."

Seto chuckled back. "I suppose that's true. But remember, even though you and I have known each other for a long time, there are still some things we don't understand about each other." Before Joseph can say anything, Seto adds, "Perhaps not understand, but tolerate. That is why nothing surprises us."

Joseph sometimes felt like Seto's wisdom would give him headaches, but he still appreciated it and had to admit that sometimes he was right. When they both stop chuckling, Joseph inquires, "So do you still want to talk? Is anything troubling you?"

Sometimes, Seto thought Joseph was prying into matters that didn't concern him, but soon remembered that he was just being a friend. At the same time, he thought that despite his devotion to the royals, Joseph was more of a loyal and true friend than he was. Seto often teased Joseph about not having a head as big as his, but would complement him by saying he had a big heart. Joseph appreciated the complement, but didn't think his heart was as big as Mystery's. Finally, Seto answered, "Everything is all right. I suppose I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"Is it because of what we all found out today about the pharaoh and queen?"

"Yes. I am very happy to hear about it. I wonder what the child will be like."

"I guess we'll know when it's born," Joseph replied. "Sorry, I mean 'she'. I can't forget this will also be the new heiress of the Great Goddess. Can you believe it, Master Seto? The first princess of Egypt to also be the new heiress of the Great Goddess Millennia?"

"I know," Seto told him. "That's twice the excitement. Egypt will forever live in the light and in prosperity. But we can't be carried away about it." Then he looks at the candle. "It is like the candle's flame; it may guide us though the darkness, but we have to protect that small flicker of light."

That was one piece of wisdom Joseph was able to fully understand and agree with. He also understood Seto's love and devotion to the royal family after hearing him confess that the pharaoh was like a brother to him. Not to mention that Seto felt indebted to Atem and Mystery for all that they had done for him in the past. "You really care a lot, don't you? I can see it." Joseph moves closer to Seto and complements him. "You know, Seto, you've got a big heart. I know there are times when you can be hard and assertive, but you've shown that you can be really caring." Then he reaches over and pats Seto's shoulder. "Even the rest of our friends agree that you can be a real softie sometimes."

Sometimes, Seto felt like Joseph was embarrassing him with those complements, but he still kindly accepted them and returned them. "And you, Joseph, are a true friend. You're very kind and understanding, I even have to admit that sometimes you can be mature and share a little of your own wisdom. More than that, you do the things you do because you care. And you're right. I care a lot about the royal family. Our family, I mean. And we'll always be there to take care of each other."

Seeing both of their amulets glow, Joseph and Seto agreed that they had shared so much with each other and learned so much from each other. But as much as Seto and Joseph would be friends to each other, it would only last for a short time and they would soon go back to their usual ways. That was when Joseph teased Seto by saying, "But it's a shame you don't like kids. Because of that, I wonder how you'll be when the princess will be born."

That wasn't necessarily true, actually. Despite Seto's firm exterior and sense of responsibility, he cared a lot about the children of the city. In fact, he would often search the kingdom and come back with children who had been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Seto knew how hard it was for children to find happiness and comfort because he had been in their place. That was why he would bring them to the palace; to ensure better lives for them. Of course, Seto wasn't the nurturing type and would mostly help the orphans with their schooling. But he didn't like seeing the children being mistreated or lonely. That would be the only time when he would be comforting.

After hearing that, Joseph once again complemented Seto about being a softie and caring too much. "Maybe you actually would make a good fatherly figure."

"Better you than me," Seto retorted. He said that because he knew that a lot of the orphans in the palace liked Joseph because he would have fun with them as well as help them with their work. While Seto and the other sacred guardians would take some of the orphans as their students and train them, Joseph would help them with their chores and let them have fun. "Besides," Seto added, "I think I would rather adopt than have children of my own."

Joseph could never figure out which seemed like the better plan. Adopting children always seemed more generous and caring, but having children seemed like the real thing. Some of the orphans would be even adopted by some of the servants. Perhaps it was the loving bond that mattered more than being bound by blood. That is how families are formed, after all. But all Joseph could say was, "Well, don't let Kisara hear you say that when she decides she wants to bear your children."

"If that is what Kisara wants, then I will happily accept it," Seto told him.

Joseph never understood why Seto would always change his mind about the things he wanted. Then he realized it was because he remembered to consider the feelings of the woman he loved. Soon, Joseph started thinking about it being the same way for him and Freya. Soon the four of them would be in the same place as their king and queen; happily married and starting their own families.