Velgamidragon: Well, I'm happy if you're happy! Thanks for the review!

HopelessRomantic183: You do, actually, write pretty long reviews. Yeah, the stages of depression made it into this story, not only because it's relevant, but I'm also a bit of a psych nut. I love the subject and it explains a lot of things about people. Aw, I loved all of your cute and excited speculations about what is to come in this story! I don't wish to reveal anything but I will tell you this; things are about to get even more exciting, especially with this chapter. I hope you enjoy and thanks for the review!

Cuteandsweet: Oh, I remember the days of using 'like, like' as valid terminology for someone having a thing for you… although, honestly, I think us college students still use it as a valid expression as well. In any case, thanks for the review!

SandstormAmaterasuZira: You mentioned cake in your review which reminded me of how one of my friends gave me the nickname, 'Cake' recently. I'm sure you want me to tell you why but there is no explanation. We were on a hike and he randomly called me 'Cake.' I suppose maybe he thought it was time he give me a nickname since recently I gave him the even more random nickname of, 'Narwhal-sama.' Hahaha, anyways, thanks for the review!

Nitrates walking: Cool username and thanks for the review!

Thouqhts-of-Nothinqness: Goodness, that was a long review! Not to say I didn't enjoy it because I most certainly did but I love getting long reviews! It was funny, though, because when I read the first sentence of your review I thought you were going to say you didn't like it. Then it turned out you actually loved it which was great to see! Yes, I think this story can definitely give itself credit for being original, I don't even know how it got this creatively original but I'm most certainly happy with it! (there's a reason the story is two years old already and it's because right after I started writing it, I took a break from it, since I had two on-going chapter stories going on and didn't have time to figure out what I wanted to happen in it. I started updating it again in September, though, and it's been on-going ever since). I was surprised that you didn't say that you thought this story was going to suck at first (because most people do) and I agree, the first couple chapters are weak but that was because I didn't know where I was going with it when I first published the story so it was hard to pick it back up again 8 months later. As for my story ending soon… it probably won't be. I still have so much more that needs to happen and a 2,500 word limit for each chapter, so this baby still has a lot of chapters coming! Anyways, a long review reply for a long review, thanks again for it and enjoy!

MythCreatorWriter: Didn't the mood of the chapter fit perfectly with the title? I was so happy with that title. It made my day possibly more than writing the chapter did! I will admit that I loved writing the conversation between Seto and Kisara. I had that written out back in March so to see it in a chapter made me happy. The next chapters ARE going to be awesome especially this one since it's what everyone has been waiting for! I can't wait to see what everyone's reaction is. Anyway, thanks for the review!

Chapter 36: Accepting the Truth

"If you need anything, just call," Another random relative said before she finally freed herself and got out of the car. After the fiftieth time hearing it, she responded with nothing. She felt she didn't need to be polite any longer after hearing the same apologetic phrases thousands of times that day. In reality, they meant nothing… at least not to Kisara.

She closed the door behind her and didn't bother to say any goodbyes. Kisara had only said goodbye once that day and it wasn't to anyone who had given her a ride home. It had been to her mother... she was the only person Kisara could manage to say goodbye to and not feel that the word was pointless.

Kisara: The hardest thing about death is not having to live without the person who died, but living with yourself… alone.

When Kisara entered the Kaiba Mansion, the first thing she did was kick off her black high heeled shoes and sigh. It was good to be back only in the sense that she could finally get out of her uncomfortable clothing. Next, Kisara stripped her head of the black hat she had been wearing and dropped it to the ground next to her shoes. She made a mental note to come back later and pick it up.

Kisara looked around. The Kaiba Mansion appeared seemingly empty, although she knew it wasn't. Her friends were probably out and about; she hadn't invited them to the funeral and they hadn't complained about it. Kisara had been so unstable emotionally that most of them were cautious when they were around her but most of the time, tried to stay away. Now that Kisara was thinking logically, she couldn't blame them.

It had now been a month since her mother died and she had been an emotional mess. Kisara realized she had mistreated nearly everyone in the house at least once and she felt terrible about it. The one person, though, she felt deserved the greatest apology was Seto. For out of everyone, she had been the cruelest to him and she knew she had to apologize to him first. It wouldn't be hard to find him.

Kisara wandered upstairs and following the familiar pathway to Seto's office where she could already picture him hunched over his laptop, typing away and being important. The memory brought a smile to her face; in her emotional roller coaster ride, she had almost forgotten what a dear friend Seto was to her.

She knocked on the door and waited for a response. When she finally heard Seto saying to come in, she did and he immediately looked up. He looked surprised and almost frightened to see her.

"Kisara… you're here." Kisara nodded, "I thought you were at the funeral." Seto's eyes traveled down and saw that Kisara was still dressed in her slim, black dress. "Oh."

"Can we talk? Let's sit down," Kisara went over to the edge of Seto's couch and beckoned Seto to sit next to her. Seto did as she asked and sat down, looking at her. Kisara's eyes were averted from him for the moment; glued to the window in his office. Outside, it was just beginning to rain as the droplets of water tapped against the glass. She turned back towards him. "I came here to apologize to you."

"Its okay, Kisara, you don't have to do that… with everything that was going on, what you did was understandable."

"It may be understandable but it's not acceptable. It was wrong of me to say such things to you and…" Kisara looked down at her hands before looking back up into Seto's face, "To hurt you." Seto laced his hands together. He kept thinking back to what Mokuba had said; all the things Mokuba had told him, especially when he stated that Seto had feelings for Kisara. Seto tried to ignore his own train of thought.

"I don't hold anything against you. I accept your apology, although it wasn't needed." Kisara smiled; something Seto hadn't seen in a very long time. He suddenly felt his heart rate spike. What was wrong with him? Couldn't he keep it together for just one conversation?

"That's what I always liked about you, Seto," Kisara said in a kind voice, "You were always fair and understanding. Some people might've held what I did against me but you understood me." Kisara pulled up her hand and stroked Seto's hair a bit. Seto's body froze completely. "After going to that funeral and out of all the things people said to me, I realized you're the only person who understands me. And I thank you for that." Kisara noticed the nervousness in Seto's face and stopped stroking Seto's hair.

"Are you okay? Sorry, I did that thing where I touch people without realizing it… I hope you're not too mad, I have to remember you're not a touchy feely person." Seto swallowed hard. It hadn't even been the fact that he was touched but more that… Kisara had been touching him. The one person, in a way, he liked being touched by. Still, this was strange and Seto was having a hard time processing these feelings.

"Seto, you in there? You haven't said a thing in over a minute. You're not mad at me, are you?" Seto took a deep breath and turned towards her, taking her hands.

Seto: Maybe it was time I accepted what Mokuba said and acknowledged my feelings. Maybe it was time to take action and tell Kisara the truth about how I felt. Maybe…

Just then, Seth burst into the room, throwing the door open with all his might. Seto's hands were immediately drawn back. Seth was panting, not necessarily from exertion of strength but from the hour he had spent gaining the confidence to run into the room all together.

"Seth, what's going on?" Kisara yelled with a hint of annoyance. Seth's sudden entrance had frightened her. That was when Seto's eyes widened with realization; Seth was going to tell her. Of all the moments, he was going to tell her the truth.

"Kisara, your mom's not your real mom. She was your neighbor. Your real parents died in a car accident, the same one that put you in a coma and made you forget your real parents and make you believe your mom was your real mom." Kisara stood up.

"Are you insane? How dare you say my mom isn't my real mom! I should kick you in the crotch for saying something like that!" Seth then took a step back, regretting he had told her in the first place. Though, he knew there was nothing else he could do except keeping going with his explanation while he had her attention.

"It's true Kisara, as much as I hate to tell you, it's true. Your mom told me the whole story when she was here, after the ball. She made me promise that I would tell you…"

"YOU'RE LYING!" Now Seto was standing up.

"What was the ONE thing I told you not to do? The one thing, Seth! God, you are such an idiot! I didn't want you telling her while I was in the room!" Kisara instantly twisted around.

"What are you saying? You knew about this?" Seto held up his hands defensively.

"Well, yes, but…" Kisara didn't even give Seto the chance to explain. She stormed out of the room. She didn't want to hear anymore of their nonsense or explanations or apologies or anything. Her storming turned into sprinting and then suddenly she was running. She went down the stairs, out the door, and onto the street… Kisara couldn't deal with this, she had to get away.

Back in the house, Seto and Seth were still standing in Seto's office, glaring at each other from across the room.

"Great timing, moron, what made you think she wanted to hear that the day she went to her mother's funeral?"

"I can't help the fact that I was practically dying of guilt. I had to do it now or not sleep for another month."

"Oh woe is you."

"Shut up." Seto and Seth walked towards the door to leave the room and go after Kisara. They stopped the moment they both tried to walk out at the same time.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm going after Kisara."

"Like she wants to see you, I'm going after Kisara." It was then that the two men no longer saw each other as only adversaries but they began to see something more in the situation between them. It had been made clear since the very beginning that Seth had feelings for Kisara but only recently Seto had discovered he had the same feelings for Kisara. Seth had never seen Seto as a threat because he hadn't been one up until that point and Seto had never really bothered to notice that Seth had been doing various things to earn Kisara's love. It was in that instant that they realized they were competitors… to each other.

Seth: Hold on, that isn't fair! I've had dibs on Kisara since, like… forever! I'm the only guy for her, not him. Well, if he thinks he can win Kisara over me, he's got disappointment coming his way. The guy barely knows how to deal with people, there's no way he's got anything on me.

Seto gave a knowing smirk reading Seth's expression, "Seth, you can't possibly beat me. For one thing; I never lose, and for another thing, you had your chance, several chances, actually, and you blew them all. You've had four months Seth, now I'm in the game which means you'll never get her so I would just give up now." It took everything in Seth not to charge at Seto and tackle him to the ground. How dare he speak to him in such a way, as if he were insignificant now compared to Seto!

Well, that wasn't the way things were going to work out. Seth had liked Kisara since the very first day they met and tried his best to show her they were perfect for each other. Sure, it hadn't really been working out thus far… but that didn't mean they weren't right for one another! Nor did it mean that Seto could suddenly step in and try to steal the glory. No, in Seth's mind, that wasn't how things were going to be.

"As if Seto, you're just a conceded prick who doesn't know one thing about Kisara. You're not right for her, man, I am!" Seto's smirk disappeared.

"Yeah, right, I probably know her better than you do! And I love that you would say something like that after all the times you've failed when trying to show her you were 'right' for her. Do I even need to go over all the failures? I suppose the only one I need to remind you of is the ball." Seth felt something drop in his stomach.

"What did you say?"

"Kisara came to me after the disaster at the ball. She didn't tell me what happened, but she didn't need to. What was important was that I was there for her in her time of need. Although she never told me what happened, I could probably compile a list of possible things you did to mess up the entire night and make Kisara feel terrible." Seth's heart was racing at this point and his blood was boiling. He was angry for not only had Seto said those things with a hint of superiority, but had phrased them in such a fashion that made him seem like Kisara's savior while Seth was Satan.

"ASSHOLE!" Seth yelled, socking a punch to Seto's face. Seto caught the punch with ease, completely unfazed by Seth's attempt to hurt him.

"You're so predictable, Seth." Seth used his other arm to elbow Seto in the stomach, a move Seto had not anticipated. After landing the blow, Seth jumped back and turned towards the door.

"I'll show Kisara I'm right for her, you'll see!" Seth yelled before leaving the room. Seto was holding his stomach. The move had honestly surprised him and Seth had elbowed him in just the right place for Seto to even take an extra second to breathe. Seto slowly got down on the ground to give himself a break. The door creaked and Seto looked up, surprised and wondering if Seth had suddenly come back. Instead, it was Mokuba, standing in the doorway, smirking in the exact same way Seto had only a couple minutes before. Seto got the sense that he was doing this because he had been eavesdropping on his and Seth's conversation, from beginning to end.

"I think this proves my point about you liking Kisara."

Rain pounded against Kisara's head. Within a minute of running out of the Kaiba Mansion, she was soaked from head to toe and her body was cold. Neither of these things bothered her while she was running with nothing on her feet. Nothing could at this point. Her head was already throbbing in pain from the headache that had developed, but the rain was a good distraction from that.

She used to believe that the best time to sing was in the rain (no pun intended), but she didn't feel like singing then. She felt like screaming, sobbing, and asking why. It wasn't fair… why did she have to lose her mother only to find out she wasn't her real mother? Kisara stopped for a moment to shake the water from her face. It couldn't be true, what Seth had said… it just couldn't be. Yet, if it wasn't… then why was she having an emotional break down about it? Didn't she have enough faith in her mother to reject the lie Seth had told her automatically?

Kisara walked along the road parallel to the Kaiba Mansion, knowing that if she followed it long enough, it would take her to the central part of Domino City where she could visit her favorite park. As she walked, she thought, about everything. By this point, she had drifted away from Seth's words back into her childhood, all the memories she had with her mother. She remembered birthdays and holidays, or even just the simple days that were spent doing nothing but watching her mother as she did the dishes or got ready for work.

Kisara admired her mother, idolized her, in every way she could. Hell, she had first decided to become an actress because that had been her mother's old dream from when she was younger but due to certain circumstances, she never achieved her dream. Kisara had built her life around being the best daughter she could for her mother… so why did it seem so easy to believe that Seth wasn't lying when he said she wasn't her mother's real daughter?

She had made it to the desolate park in a half hour or so and was happy to finally sit down and rest on a bench. In the back of her head she could hear her mother's voice telling her to turn back or at least go inside, that she would catch a could if she stayed out any longer. Kisara needed this time, however, to think and ponder. Memories of her mother were flooding her mind nonstop, out of order and of random events that didn't fit together. This wasn't of her will and she couldn't understand why it was happening. There was no stopping it now though, the memories were in motion and Kisara would just have to sit down and go through them.

That was when she remembered one memory in particular… one that seemed to stick out above the rest. There wasn't anything extraordinary about it; it was a memory of Kisara when she was still in grade school, she had just finished the day and she was waiting and searching for her mother who was waiting for her outside. It was just like any other school day. The only thing that was different about that day in particular was that her mother had come into school to talk about her job since it was a 'bring your parent to school' day. She watched the other children reunite with their mothers and fathers, always keeping an eye out for her own.

Kisara's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered a conversation she had with Seth many months ago during the camping trip, concerning that exact memory, "Seth, have you ever felt like you didn't belong?" Bits and pieces began to come back to her and paint an image she had overlooked for many years, "…I just remember getting out of class, seeing the other children with their parents and then see my mom… I don't know. I mean, I love my mom, but the way we were compared to other children… it didn't seem right. It didn't fit the picture."

It was then that she had figured out why it was that she couldn't disregard Seth's words about her mother, how her brain knew but never admitted that he was telling the truth.

Kisara: It was because I always subconsciously knew through-out my entire life that my mother wasn't my real mother. The only thing was that I loved and cared for her so much that I didn't want to believe it, so I dug myself so far into denial so that I could believe it was reality, hoping that nothing in the future could ever make me remember that it was all a lie. The problem with that method was that I never took into account the possibility that my mom would want me to know and tell me.

A/N: Hello everyone! Hope everyone's having a splendid day so far, Kari's here coming in with a new update in the early afternoon. I can't believe I didn't build this chapter up more, after all, it's the one thing you guys have been waiting for since… wait, let me check my own story… Episode 26! (oh, that's not so bad… it only took 10 chapters…) Not to mention that the conversation Kisara was referring to is from Episode 6… wow, and that was 30 chapters ago! This sure has become a long story. Well, anyways, more updates to come, I'm sure.

Before I end, I would like to dedicate this chapter to AmePiper because it's this special girl's birthday! If you have the time, send her a PM and say happy birthday, I'm sure she'd enjoy the messages. She is one of my most special reviewers because not only is she pure in heart but she has been reading my stories for about 4 or 5 years now, and doesn't plan to stop! Not to mention she's a fantastic person and a great friend. She has been for quite some time. So Ame, I hope everything is going great for you and have a wonderful birthday!