Seto carried Saya up the stairs and into her room. She had played hard all day with Mokuba at Kaiba Land and as always, she had fallen asleep in the limo. As he tucked her into bed, Seto thought about everything that had happened since he'd adopted Saya.
His life had changed for the better, there was no doubt about that. He'd regained something since she arrived. His heart… his soul… he had gotten them both back since his Morning Glow had entered his life. And he'd become much closer to Mokuba as well, taking more time off of work than usual to spend with him. Normally, if he finished a project early, he'd find something else to do and keep working until the break of dawn. Not anymore. If he finished a project early, he'd hurry home to eat dinner with his little brother and sister. Sometimes it'd be the both of them, other times he'd give them one on one time. And there was a third person he had to pay attention too. His new girlfriend, Anzu.
That's right. He finally got together with Anzu, much to Saya and Mokuba's delight. They both enjoyed having the girl around, and were more than glad to let she and Seto have "alone time." Alone, that is, with the two of them spying.
Seto shook his head as he walked out of Saya's room, remembering the day he and Anzu got together. It had been about a week ago, on Saya's birthday…
"Is everything ready?" Seto asked, looking around the Kaiba Land party room.
"Almost, Seto-sama," came the reply. Seto and some of his Kaiba Land employees had been working since early that morning, decorating the room for the surprise birthday party he was throwing for Saya. Mokuba was a bit jealous at first, since Seto had never thrown him a surprise party before.
"I will someday, Moku," Seto promised. "Someday when you least suspect it." That seemed to be enough to please Mokuba…
"Seto-sama! Master Mokuba is on the phone!" Speak of the devil. Seto walked over to the phone and picked it up.
"Niisama!" Mokuba cried before Seto had a chance to speak. "Niisama, Saya's gone!!"
"WHAT?!" yelled Seto. "What do you mean she's gone?!"
"Just what I said! There was a note on the table from her- she said she was going to America and become a Heavy Metal singer." Seto fought to hold in a laugh- that was exactly something Saya would do.
"Does it say why she wants to leave, Mokuba."
"Yeah…" There was a pause.
"Well, what is it?"
"She says that she doesn't want to bother us with trying to remember her…" Seto was confused about that for a moment… but then it hit him. For the past week, Saya had been dropping hints about her birthday, things that she wanted… well, mostly things that she needed. She casually mention that her art supplies were low, or that she needed new clothes. Seto had to admit, she was very good at it. But he and Mokuba pretended to ignore her, saying they would get that stuff later and there were more important things to get right now…
"Damn it," Seto said. "We've gotta find her."
Saya, are you sure you want to do this? Koujo asked the girl as she walked towards the airport, her backpack slung over her shoulder and Seto-ryu in her hand. She knew all about the plans of the Kaiba brothers, but didn't want to ruin it for Saya… chances were, Saya wouldn't believe her anyway.
Yes, Saya said, plainly. I'm going to America and I'm gonna start my own heavy metal group. We're gonna be called All-Seeing White Tiger and we're gonna top the charts. Koujo sighed, exasperated.
All right, Asayake…
"Saya!" Saya turned around to see Anzu running towards her, causing Koujo to sigh in relief. Anzu also knew about the party plans, so maybe she would be able to talk Saya into going back. "Where are you going kiddo?" she asked.
"I'm running away," Saya said, bluntly. "I'm going to America to be a heavy metal singer."
"Okay," Anzu replied. "Is Seto meeting you at the airport?" Saya shook her head.
"I don't wanna bother him and Mokuba with having to think about me all the time. So I'm gonna go, just me and Koujo." Anzu bit her lip, thinking. This probably had something to do with Saya's birthday… either way, she couldn't let her leave.
"I'll tell you what," Anzu said. "How about you and I got out for an ice cream before you go? We can go anywhere you want." Saya smiled happily.
"Really? Anywhere?" Anzu nodded. "Even Kaiba Land?"
"Especially Kaiba Land!" Anzu replied. The party was to be at Kaiba Land anyway. Now… to tell Kaiba. "Saya, I've gotta call my mom real quick- wait right here and I'll be back."
"Okay!" Anzu smiled and walked away a little bit, making sure to keep Saya in her sight. She then pulled out her cell phone and called Kaiba. After a moment, he picked up his phone.
"Saya, is that you?!" he cried. "Listen, I'm sorry I forgot about your birthday and…"
"Save it for the real Saya, Kaiba." There was a pause.
"Mazaki?" he asked. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to tell you that I found your little sister heading for Domino Airport…"
"You found her?! Is she all right, where is she?!"
"She, is waiting for me to take her to Kaiba Land for some ice cream." There was a pause. "Kaiba?"
"Mazaki, I could kiss you." She laughed.
"I'll remind you of that later," she said. "Just make sure everything's ready, all right?"
"Got it." He hesitated. "Thanks, Anzu. I owe you one."
"First name basis now, are we?" she asked, jokingly. Before Seto could apologize, she continued. "See you at the party, Seto." He listened to her hang up and smiled.
"Thanks Anzu."
Anzu hung up her cell phone and walked back over to Saya, smiling brightly. Saya looked up at her.
"How's your Mom?" she asked. Anzu smiled back.
"She's good and she says hi. Ready for that ice cream?" Saya nodded, eagerly. "All right, lets go!" Anzu took Saya's hand and led her to Kaiba Land. Once they got there, Anzu stopped. "Okay, Saya, I need you to close your eyes." Saya looked up at her, confused.
"Why, Anzu?" Anzu smiled back.
"It's a surprise, Saya. Just close your eyes." Saya looked suspicious, but she closed her eyes. Anzu smiled and led her into the room. The lights were off, nothing could be seen. Anzu closed the door. "All right, Saya, open your eyes." Saya opened her eyes.
"Why is it so dar…" Suddenly the lights came on.
"Surprise! Happy Birthday, Saya!" Saya's eyes widened as she looked at everyone around her. Yugi, Yami, Joey, Anzu, Sorcerer, Jou, Koujo… Mokuba and Seto. With tears in her eyes, she ran over to them, tackling them both to the ground and hugging them tight.
"You damn jerks," she said, crying softly. "You made me think… I thought…" Seto sighed, hugging her tight.
"I'm sorry, Saya-imouto," he said softly. "I never meant to make you think we didn't want you…" Mokuba nodded, hugging them both.
"We just wanted to surprise you!" Saya wiped her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much…" Seto smiled, getting to his feet, still hugging her tight.
"How about opening your presents, Saya-imouto?" he asked. Saya's eyes widened.
"I get presents?" she asked, her eyes wide. "Wow!"
"Of course you get presents!" cried Mokuba, leading her over to a table that was filled with them. Saya couldn't believe it. She'd never gotten a gift in her entire life and now… all of these were for her?
"Open mine first, Saya," Joey said, pushing a package towards her. Saya opened the red paper wrapped box quickly, gasping happily when she opened it.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" she cried, pulling out the contents of the box. It was a Flame Swordsman Plushie, one Saya had been looking everywhere for. Her dream was to get the entire set of all the Duel Monsters Plushies. And Joey knew this because she'd told him that many times. She tackled Joey, hugging him tight. "Thanks Joey! Thank you so much!" Joey smiled, ruffling her hair.
"No problem, Kid." Seto nodded.
"Nice work… for a dog." Joey's eyes narrowed.
"Why I aughta…"
"Why don't you open my present, Saya?" asked Anzu, pushing another box towards her, this time wrapped in pink paper. Saya smiled happily and nodded.
"Okay, Anzu!" Saya pulled the box over and began to open it. Inside was an artist's set, complete with pencils, pastels, paints, brushes… the works. "Wow!! Anzu, thank you so much!" Anzu smiled.
"You're welcome, Saya." Next, Saya grabbed a box wrapped in blue and green striped paper.
"That's from Yami and I," Yugi said. "I think you'll like it." Saya smiled shyly at him, causing Seto to sigh. She'd developed a bit of a crush on Yugi, but he paid it no mind. She had a crush on Brendan Fraiser too.
"Holy cow!" cried Saya as she pulled five cards out of the box. "Yami-san, Yugi, what are they?"
"It's called the Destiny Board, Saya," Yami replied. "Think of it as the Exodia of Spell cards." Saya's eyes widened, the endless possibilities running through her head, the duels she could win… awesome.
"Thank you!" she cried. "Thank you so much!" Koujo smiled, handing Saya a long, slender box.
"This is from Onshi and I," she said. Saya smiled happily and opened the box. Inside was a long wooden staff, the head of a tiger at the top.
"The staff of the Sorceress of the Tiger," Sorcerer Seto said, crossing his arms in front of him. "Personally I don't think you deserve it yet…" Saya responded to this by glaring at him and setting his robes on fire. Sorcerer jumped in surprise before putting out the fire, leaving a large scorched hole in his roles. "You little demon!"
"Takes one to know one!" Saya yelled back, her eyes narrowed. She and Sorcerer kept the glaring contest up until Saya finally burst into giggles and ran over and hugged him tight.
"Thank you, Onshi!" she said before running over to hug Koujo. "Thank you, Koujo!" Koujo smiled, hugging her back.
"You're welcome, Morning Glow," she whispered softly. Yami watched this, a proud smile on his face. His daughter. His little girl. So tough and determined, yet so gentle and kind. Sometimes it was hard to believe she was really his. But those other times… there wasn't a doubt in his mind.
"Saya, you've got one more!" cried Mokuba. Saya looked at him, confused.
"But Moku," she said. "There aren't any more packages on the table."
"Who said it was on the table?" asked Seto, who was standing behind Saya. She turned around… and gasped.
"Oh… oh my gosh…" In Seto's arms was a small white puppy. The only parts of him that weren't white was the black patch around his right eye and the red bandanna around his neck. "Sonkei," she whispered. "Is… is he mine? Really?!" Seto smiled, nodding.
"Yes, Saya-imouto," he said. "Happy Birthday."
Families are never custom made. There are times when some people think that it's pure chance that they are placed with certain parents, brothers and sisters. But it's not chance. It's fate. Fate brought the Kaiba's together, and even if it wasn't at birth, there is no question that they were meant for each other. There will most likely be more adventures with these three people as they continue to grow… but for now…
This is where the story ends.
Sarah: Well, all my faithful reviewers, this is the end… of this story anyway! Don't worry, I have another one currently in the mix. It's being co-written by my good friend, Princess Ria, so I suggest you go read her stories until I post again So, for the last time, in this story anyway, this is Koujo SilverWolf signing off!