The days and nights passed, one blending into the next with scarce a pause. Set went about his daily duties, and Katsuya was free to roam as he wished. With the lesser duties he was able to help out, and when only Set could fulfil certain jobs as the High Priest, Katsuya would explore the palace, meeting people who up until that time he had known mostly by sight. He became fast friends with Yugi, and they laughed together at the rumors which were only rumors, and the wild talk which was more often than not true at its core, such as the real tale behind Ryou and the Tomb Robber.

Slowly but surely, Set himself opened up to Katsuya, speaking openly of his days as a child and a High Priest in training (though getting him to talk of his feelings was, and most likely always would be, a challenge that Katsuya took up with a vengeance).

During the cooler evenings they often slept together, though Katsuya now had his own private chamber just beyond Set's. He often awoke still huddles in Set's arms, and was glad the brunette was there on such nights when the nightmares were at their worst. During these nights Set would say nothing if Katsuya did not, and simply lay there in silence, holding Katsuya until he calmed and eventually went back to sleep.

---

Set watched Katsuya stir, muttering something in half-wakefulness. Unconsciously stretching, his eyes eventually fluttered open, registering the fact that the brunette was staring at him, face almost expressionless.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

Katsuya shook his head, glad that his sleep had been free of fitful dreams, which were now so often riddled with images of dank stone walls, and the sounds of rasping steel and a crying woman.

"No... just a dream."

"What did you dream of?"

The blonde shrugged.

"I don't remember. I don't think it was anything bad... when did you get back?"

Set had been away for a few days visiting another temple, and had been able to see his younger brother once more.

"Not long ago. A few hours, no more. You were already asleep and did not wake when I came in."

"How was your brother?"

Set gave a fleeting smile.

"Growing up. You will see him soon, at the festival everyone from leagues around will travel to in honour of our Sun-god. Katsuya... there is something I must tell you."

Katsuya sat up at the change in tone, and Set hastened to reassure him.

"Nothing is wrong, everything is alright... but, you must know... during my travels, stayed with a family for a night. They had an interesting tale to tell, of a man who had came by that way. An elder man, they said, heavily built. He had been outside for some time, judging by his appearance. They told me that he had been half-mad, gibbering of the palace and the Pharaoh and the High Council... and the next day, he had been lying by the river near their property, dead. They told me he had drowned, whether by accident or on purpose it was impossible to tell. It had been some time ago when this happened, and the body long disposed of, but in all probability... your Father is now dead, Katsuya."

The blonde appeared abstracted, turned toward the window at the still-dark sky. His breathing was easy, however, and his body relaxed. Set knew he must be thinking about things, and coming to his own conclusion.

"Katsuya?"

"Yes."

"Are you alright?"

The blonde nodded.

"I'm fine. I guess... it doesn't really matter anymore. He's dead in body now, but to me, the man who was my Father has already been dead a long time."

Then, with an abrupt change of subject and tone that Set was by now getting used to, Katsuya reached over to pull out a glimmering object from the cabinet beside him.

"Do you remember this?"

It was the gold-and-sapphire bracelet that Katsuya had worn to the Council once, and Set gave a start.

"Yes... of course I remember."

Something in Set's own tone made Katsuya suspicious.

"You seemed a little startled when you first saw it on me, and then just now... Isis gave it to me, but what does it mean? She said it suited me..."

Set smirked.

"Oh yes, it certainly becomes you, Katsuya. Do you mean to tell me that you wore it without knowing what it meant?"

"Tell me!"

Set did not speak at once, but crushed the blonde to him, stifling a very unPriestly-like laugh of pure mirth.

"So you have not figured it out..."

Katsuya would have cursed at Set's evasion of answer if his mouth was free, and then rapidly decided it was not so very important that he find out right away. And then, as Set broke free for some much-needed air, he gave another smirk, triumphant, and whispered in his lover's ear.

"The bracelet is from my own set of jewelery... only I and the people connected to me may wear it. The gold is the imperial shade of royalty, the deep blue my own colour of status. Put into a bracelet and worn by a male other than myself..."

Katsuya went bright red as Set tauntingly kissed him again, slow and lingering.

"A way of belonging, in a sense. Apparently you were not only declaring that you in some way belonged to me, but also that you were, by association, a damn good-"

Set broke off, smirking all the more widely at Katsuya's flushed cheeks.

Set's words were, however, proved correct for the rest of the night. In the morning, Katsuya did not hesitate to once more wear the bracelet.

Yup, that's it. Hope everyone enjoyed, please review this last chapter and tell me how you think the fic went overall.