So I still got it out :D But it took longer than I expected... And it's not as short as I expected..

I don't think I can update tomorrow, but I will on Christmas. Because I know for sure I can at least post the special LOST Christmas special if not a chapter. But if I do manage to get a chapter out I have a feeling it will be especially long. And the end of Part 1.

So enjoy this one because the next will tear you to shreds. Though to be honest this chapter is meh...

Falling to Rise

Chapter 14

"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step."

"Uncle," Seto answered back. Seto stood at the base of the stairs a small smile on his face. His uncle walked down the stairs, slow, but he came and greeted Seto with a big hug.

Seto hugged his uncle back, it was nice to see at least one loving face, "Seto! What are you doing here?"

Seto was about to answer but his uncle interrupted him, "Oh nevermind, that doesn't matter!" He slapped Seto on the back and let out a joyous laugh. Seto doubled over from the force but laughed along with his uncle, "It's good to see you again lad!"

Seto chuckled, "It's good to see you too Uncle."

"Who are these gentlemen?" Seto's uncle gestured to the three men and one morvic.

"Oh! Uh, these are my friends... uh" Seto trailed off, what was he supposed to say. Hi, these are my friends we're joining together to save my other friend who is currently terrorising Emedo along with save my mom from execution.

No, he couldn't say that. Just looking at his uncle he could tell he knew nothing of what happened to his mother and father. He was as clueless as he was, and so he couldn't bear to tell him the terrible news. He wanted to spare his uncle of the worry.

"Friends? Ah, I see you're in town for a little bit with these here fellows, on a mission for the army?"

"Y-yes! That's it, I'm heading to Emedo and I thought I would pay you a visit before I leave in a couple of days." Seto covered.

"Come on, tell your friends they can join us for dinner, they must be exhausted." Seto's uncle bade him to the dining room.

"Thank you Uncle," Seto did just that. He gathered everyone as quickly as he could and they all met in the dining room. As much as Seto wanted to enjoy this time he had with his Uncle, heck, even his cousin, he couldn't get the trial out of his mind.

The trial is in two days, he had two days to prepare himself. Two days to sort through everything that has happened in the past couple of days and to figure out exactly how he would save his mother.

"I'm going to get some sleep," Seto muttered.

"Huh, you sure?" Adam asked.

Seto smiled, "Yea, don't worry. It's been a long day, that's all."

Seto excused himself from the table and left without another word.

~~~~~

Seto lay in bed, the blankets pulled up to his neck, He tossed and turned uncomfortably, sunlight peeked through the curtains casting light on his face. He squinted and sat up and pushed the blankets off of him. He took a moment to rub his eyes before crawling out of bed.

Whenever he used to visit and stay the night at his Uncle's place when he was younger, this would always be his room. It was larger than the room he used in his own home. But everything in the room was fit for a young child, well except for the bed which was perfect for someone of his age. He hadn't stayed in this room for quite sometime so it was out of date with the things he enjoyed now, however the room brought fond memories to mind.

Seto walked over to the curtains and pulled them open, only blinking as the sun shone in his eyes. He opened the window and stuck his head outside as he took in the morning desert air. He loved his home and he wanted nothing to change about it.

But somehow he knew that nothing would be the same anymore.

Seto snuck out of his room as quietly as he could. Carefully making his way down the stairs he quickly walked past the kitchen. It was early enough no one else would probably be awake--

"Seto." He spoke to soon, "Where are you off to so early in the morning?"

"Uncle?" Seto laughed nervously as he glanced into the dining room to see his Uncle sitting comfortably in a chair, "You're up early yourself."

His uncle laughed with him, "I've taken a liking to mornings, made a habit to rise a little earlier."

"Where are you headed so early anyway?"

"Just out for a little bit..."

"Hmm, alright, you're an adult now, I can respect that, but if you happen to see your mother tell her I stopped by a couple days ago. She wasn't home when I stopped by, and I just wanted to remind her of the festival in few days."

"Ah! The festival, that's right, I wish I could be here for it..."

"Don't worry laddy, there's always next year."

"Right, of course... See you later Uncle I'll be back." Seto left his Uncle's home and traveled down the street. Thankfully he had the street all to himself as he walk down the road.

He approached his destination in less than ten minutes. He was home.

Seto entered his home, he frowned and whispered to himself, "I'm home ma..." Seto sighed as he closed the door behind him. It was quiet, too quiet for his liking.

"Master Seto, I was not expecting to see you here." Seto gasped and turned around to see...the coachman?

"Oh, uh..." He laughed nervously.

"My apologize," he gave a small courteous bow, "You must be confused as to why I am here. I'm simply watching over the home until Lady Aliss returns."

"Oh, then do you mind if I watch over it with you?"

"Not at all, it's only natural for the young master to wish to protect his mother's home."

"Thank you, oh! I don't believe I ever got to catch your name since I've rarely ever use the carriage."

"It's just a name it doesn't really matter now does it."

"Please, it's only fair that I get to address you by your name too."

"I see...Valen if you wish to know."

Seto held out his hand, "Nice to meet you Valen...though I guess I've always known you, but I'm glad I get to know your name now." Just because Seto was upset didn't mean he had to let his emotions affect the people around him.

"Just like your mother." he whispered and smiled to himself.

"Hm?"

"Nothing, would you care for some tea?"

"Yes, thank you, do you mind if I take a look around?"

"Not at all, take your time."

~~~~~

Jerome yawned, he's never gotten a chance like this to sleep in a real bed. At least not for a long time, it felt nice. What a lucky b*stard Seto was to have a life like this. A nice warm bed, a place to call home, a family.

In only the few days that he's known him, Jerome has been confused on whether to hate Seto for the normal life he's been able to live or feel connected to him since they are alike.

Man, who was he kidding, it wasn't his problem. He was only here because he had no choice, right, he was being dragged into their problems. And being that they are their problems, that made them not his.

However, Seto did help him out here and there even though he did try to kill Seto. The kid is probably an idiot though, to trust someone so easily. And the things he rambled about seeing things in his mind. Though Jerome had to admit, if it weren't for that crazy vision or whatever the hell it was, he never would've won that match.

Food.

That's what he needed, food, he couldn't think on an empty stomach.

As Jerome headed down the stairs he could smell something good cooking. "Look who finally decided to join us." Jerome looked up and saw Ian, Adam, and Mitch sitting in the dining table. Mitch had this stupid smirk on his face that made Jerome want to barf. Stupid, rich snob.

"What the nether do you want?" Jerome grumbled and pulled up a chair far away from everyone else. There was still some breakfast on the table so without waiting he decided to dig in.

"Nothing to do with you of course, just figured you would know where the sorcerer boy went."

"Seto?"

"Who else..." Smarta*s, Jerome grumbled in his head while he chewed on some chicken.

"How would I know?"

"Because you two are the same, duh."

Jerome glared at the ignorant prince, "Go screw yourself, you're just a rich fool, keep making comments like that, and that's all you'll ever be. A fool." Jerome took a swig of water to wash down all the food before getting up and leaving.

"H-hey! You can't leave after an insult like that!"

"Watch me..." he muttered and walked out the door.

Jerome had left the dining room in awkward silence, until Adam broke the tense environment, "Soo~ Should we go after him."

"Leave him be, not like he'll go too far, this is unfamiliar territory to him." Ian said.

Mitch's chair was pushed out as Mitch got up, quietly grumbling to himself, "A fool! He had the nerve to call me a fool, stupid dog. I received top notch education, I'm not a fool!" Mitch left the house too.

"Should we go after--"

"No."

~~~~~

The streets weren't too busy, even though it was midday. Then again it's not like Jerome goes strolling out on any streets all that often. Morvics are forbidden from towns unless they're under service to a human, like he would ever stoop that low... Plus, he is a wanted criminal so he'd be a fool to stroll into any town even if morvics were welcomed in them.

Suddenly Jerome felt drawn to this house behind iron gates as he walked by it. He doubled back and took another glance at it. It wasn't as big as the one he was staying in now, but it was still pretty large. The iron gates were slightly open. Jerome looked around to see if anyone was watching before pushing the gates open more and walking through.

Of course, there was one person watching. And of course it was none other than the Prince of Duhita himself.

"That dog, stealing in broad daylight!" Mitch followed after Jerome had already walked into the house. Which for some reason the front door was unlocked.

"Why are you following me?" Jerome was waiting just inside the house, arms crossed and glaring as Mitch snuck in after him.

Mitch jumped, he wasn't expecting Jerome to know he was following him, "I could say the same, why are you breaking into this house?"

"I didn't break in! The front door was unlocked!" he protested.

"Excuse me, may I ask why you are in--oh, you're Master Seto's friends." Both Mitch and Jerome jumped and turned to see that guy who told Seto his mother was arrested.

"Are you perhaps looking for Master Seto?"

"Uh..y-yes." Jerome answered.

"He's down by his father's study if you wish to find him," the man turned away.

"O-oh, thanks!" Jerome watched as the guy walked off before looking to Mitch, "Where the nether is the study?"

"Don't look at me!" Mitch hissed, "How the nether would I know!"

"Fine," Jerome grumbled, "We'll just go look for it..."

"This doesn't let you off the hook for attempted theft!" Mitch trailed after him.

"For the last time, I wasn't trying to steal anything!"

"You can't fool me."

~~~~~

Seto sat comfortable in his father's study. He sat in his father's chair at his father's desk with the crackling of a fire behind him. He had to add new logs and light it with a flint and steel since it was out when he came in.

Seto was reading through one of his favorite history books, one of the many his father used for teaching. His father was an excellent teacher, Seto never went to school because he always had his father there.

Nevertheless, he was reading up on the wars many many centuries ago. How the wars divided people from every kingdom who would later lay claim on what is now known as Emedo.

The fire crackled and popped and Seto sighed in content. He suppose it wasn't a terribly rash decision to come home, even though he came to help his Uncle in his time of grief, only to find his Uncle had no clue to what was really going on. But Seto knew everything would be ok--

"Dammit! Leave me the nether alone!" The door to his father's study was slammed open and both Jerome and Mitch came tumbling in. Both of them appeared to be fighting.

Seto sat shocked as the two of them rolled across the floor, practically pulling each other's hair out, "You started it!"

It seemed neither of them noticed Seto yet as the both stood up still fighting. Mitch shoved Jerome off of him and into the shelves nearby, causing a few books to fall from shelves.

"I started it, you started it you rich snob!"

"Dog!"

"Princess!"

"Fleabag!"

"I don't have fleas!"

"And I'm not a girl."

"You sure act like one."

"Uh..." Seto tried to cut in

"I do not!"

"Uh... hello?" Seto tried again.

Jerome ran at Mitch and Mitch at Jerome. They shoved each other, then Jerome shoved Mitch against the stone wall of the fireplace. Mitch ran at Jerome and pushed him to the ground. Not before Seto notice a stone in the fireplace wall move slightly.

Seto walked over to investigate while Jerome and Mitch continued to fight. A knock on the door stopped everyone.

"Sorry to intrude, but the tea you requested is ready."

Mitch and Jerome glanced at each other, "We didn't ask for--"

"Oh! Thank you!"

"Ehhhh! Seto! When did you come into this room!" Jerome gasped.

"I've been here for awhile...heh heh, you didn't really notice huh?"

"We'll be over in a few minutes, just let me clean up."

"As you wish," he bowed and left the three in the room. Mitch glanced at Jerome and they both quickly got off each other.

"Why didn't you say anything, if I had known you were here I wouldn't have indulged myself in such a petty fight." Mitch said as he dusted himself off.

"Petty! you started it!"

"Oh, don't start again."

Seto ignored the two's bickering and glanced back at the fireplace. A loose stone is not normal, he knew every nook and cranny of this home, but a loose stone, that was new. Excuse him for being over analysing, but he reached out to pull the stone out from its place.

Just as he suspected, it wasn't here before, this was new. He reached his hand in, his fingers scraped against the rough stone. His fingertips brushed against a smooth surface. Seto pulled out a small journal, it looked old and worn. He flipped through a few pages and recognized his father's handwriting.

"Hey! Let's go grab that tea and head back."

Mitch and Jerome stopped bickering, "Huh, ok... sure."

Good night guys :D

~WrittenDarkness