Miro had spent the remainder of the trip going between treating Dea like she was made of precious but delicate glass, ready to shatter at a touch, and being unable to take his hands off of her. Each moment was treated like it might be his last one with her, even as his brain worked furiously to complete the formula in his head that had been the focus of his every thought and deed for well over a century, with only a few days, weeks or years with Dea's reincarnations breaking into his mind every so often.

Although he was hopeful that she would be reincarnated again, should the worst happen and her life be cut short by the disease that slowly spread through her body, he was unwilling to do anything other than try his best to have this be the last time she needed to go through the rebirth cycle. Especially after how long it took last time for her to be reborn. What if this was his last chance to be with her? What if her amazing resemblance to her first life was a sign that this would be her last? No! He would not let his beloved, his goddess, slip through his grasp yet again!

It would break him to loose her yet another time, to see her die in his arms when he was so close to having her by his side forever more, able to finally shower her with all the love and affection he felt for her every moment of his existence. She was everything to him and had been ever since the first time he saw her, her copper-streaked hair shimmering under the moonlight, enchanting him and making his then human heart race faster than ever before.

He would save her this time, even if it killed him.

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The trip back couldn't have come soon enough for him, the knowledge of Dea's illness making him finally take note of the way her skin had grown paler over the time she had been with him, something he had previously brushed aside as simply the effect of her having adjusted to his own schedule and sleeping away the daylight hours.

With the realization of that not being the case, he began to look closer, noticing the hints of illness. Her once lustrous skin had begun to finally show the signs of the sickness dwelling beneath the surface. Even the frequent trips to the hot springs, soaking in the mineral-filled waters, failed to bring the glow of health back to her skin.

The first time she began coughing in front of him, he demanded they return home at once, packing their bags in a burst of panicked motion. Deciding that the yacht would take far too long to bring them back, he contacted the nearest airfield and demanded they ready a private jet for him, already loading the suitcases into the trunk of the car.

Hurrying to the passenger side of the car, he opened the door and gently helped Dea settle herself into the back seat, sliding in beside her before ordering the driver toward their destination. The entire ride there, he held her hands in one of his as he wrapped his other arm around her shoulders, holding her close as he lovingly fussed over her wellbeing.

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The moment Dea was finally resting in her own bed at home, medicine given to help ease any discomfort and testing having already been started with blood and skin samples to ascertain how far along the disease was, Miro was off to the labs to work on the final stages of the serum that would finally allow him to ensure Dea's immortality as he waited for the test results to be brought to him.

He had begrudgingly given the task of completing the tests to his assistant, her having proven her loyalty enough for him when she had rushed to assist Dea, showing her the same care that most would save only for close family members.

It didn't hurt that Dea seemed to accept the female's presence around her, not showing any signs of fear or unease towards the immortal woman.

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"You really are her, aren't you?" The female asked, her head tilted to the side with a look of awe in her eyes above the black medical mask she always seemed to wear. "You came back to me, to us, after all these centuries. Just like you promised you would. Let me complete my end of the bargain we made so long ago, my lady."

"I don't understand, Letta. What do you mean? What bargain?" Dea looked at her in confusion, her once lustrous hair hanging limply around her face.

Even when Letta began moving closer towards her, the young woman didn't feel any concern, just a curiosity towards the odd behavior from the female who had been helping take care of her for the past few days.

"Don't worry, my lady. You will understand in time. Until then, just remember that I will never bring you harm, no matter what happens. You can trust me, I swear it now just as I swore it then," Letta's said with conviction as one of her hands reached into a pocket, the other running gently down Dea's hair comfortingly.

Moments later, a slightly sweet-smelling black cloth was held to her lower face, the whispered apologies of Letta echoing in her ears as she struggled vainly against the strength of the immortal woman.