Joy: Okay, everyone, I'm back! Just as promised, chapters are coming along fast and easy! After this, there will be only six more chapters to go! That means this story's last chapter is 25! Everyone seems to want another story, so I will see what I can do. Now I know I kind of surprised a few people with the fact that Ryou was the last keeper instead of Kaiba, but I have my reasons. If anyone can guess them, that's okay. Anyway, on with the chapter!

The Last Item

"Oh my goodness! Look at this place!" Joy cried out as she and her father approached Joy's new home, which was an enormous mansion on an extensive plot of land. There was a circular driveway that went around a courtyard in front of the house. "It's as big as the estate and Kaiba Manor!"

Steven smiled. "Then am I correct in thinking you like it?" he asked.

Joy gave her father a hug. "Absolutely! But isn't it a bit big for one person?"

"Perhaps, but you have many friends I am sure will want to stay over once or twice. Besides, there are really two of you and I am sure Katilli will want a room of her own for whenever she feels like coming out for a bit."

What do you think, Katilli? Our own mansion!

Katilli laughed a bit. It does sound nice, and it would be nice to have a room outside of my soul room to stay.

"Now there are a few things I want to clear up before you settle in." Joy followed her father as he went up to the front door. He handed her a set of keys. "Each key is marked as to what it unlocks. I also have a copy just in case. All expenses concerning the house will be taken care of by me. I will also be making sure there are some people hired to help keep the place up and running. Oh, and here."

He handed Joy a card holder wallet. "What's this?" she asked.

Steven smiled slightly. "It's a wallet, dear."

Joy gave him a pouted look. "I know that, dad."

"There are credit cards and bank cards in there, all in your name, of course. I want you to feel free to use them at your leisure to buy the things you need, such as food and clothing and any other articles. If you have any problems using them, let me know. The accounts on the cards are already open and ready for you."

Joy looked shocked and thankful. "Oh, daddy. How can I thank you?"

"No need at all, just keep the Japanese branch in healthy operating status. Do your job well and promise me something. Don't lose who you are under a mountain of paperwork. Remember to make room for you in your life. Promise?"

Joy smiled and nodded eagerly. "I promise!"

"Good. Now I am going to stay here until you have finished hiring an upper management staff and workers, that should take a few days or maybe a week. Then I will be heading back to Montana. I can arrange for anything you need to be shipped here or if you like you can come back with me and retrieve them yourself. It is your decision. Now as for work, I do intend for you to give me a semi-annual evaluation of your progress. Sales, accounts, all of that. If you need any help at any time, you let me know, Agreed?" Steven asked as he started to walk back to his car. Joy followed behind him.

"Of course." Steven got into his vehicle.

"Very good. Now, be happy, go explore your new home, and meet me at the office tomorrow morning. You remember where it is, right?" Joy nodded. "Oyasumi, honey."

"Oyasumi, otousan." Joy gave her dad another hug and a quick kiss on the cheek, then watched him back out of the driveway and out of sight. Then she went inside the huge house and took a look around.

As she walked in, she first came upon an enormous main hall with stairway on each side. The kitchen and dining room were on the left side, and there was a sitting room and living room on the right. Joy headed upstairs to a long hallway most of the rooms were bedrooms, but here was also a few others, like a study area complete with computers and desks, and a fully stocked library with comfortable furniture. Joy wondered through every room in an attempt to familiarize herself with her new home.

Afterwards, Joy settled on a chair by a phone and called Kaiba up on his cell phone.

"Kaiba."

"Hey, Kaiba. It's me."

"Houyoku?"

"Yep! I'm sitting in the middle of my new house and it is so cool! You gotta come down later on, okay? I'll give you the address."

Seto copied it down. "I'll be down tomorrow. I'm working late."

"Fine, just don't work yourself to death."

"Whatever. See you tomorrow." Seto got off the phone and sighed. So much to do, he muttered to himself.

You need a vacation, Sorcerer replied.

Can't. To busy. Just then there was a gust of wind that blew Seto's window open. "What the - ?"

"Kaiba, so good for us to meet again."

Kaiba quickly transformed the wristwatch he had on to Sorcerer Seto's staff, then readied himself. "Akujin."

Want me to take over? Sorcerer asked quickly.

No. I want this bastard myself. A thick black mist seeped in through the open window, quickly taking the shape of a human figure.

"Glad you haven't forgotten my name. Now what would a powerful man such as yourself be doing all alone with absolutely no protection at all. You really think that staff can save you, foolish boy?" Akujin sneered.

"It'll do more than that, bastard." Seto aimed the staff and fired a blast right at Akujin, who countered by pulling out a familiar golden sword and deflecting the blow out the window.

Akujin sneered again. "This will ensure your death, Kaiba!"

"The Sword of Kai," Seto breathed.

Kaiba, let me take over, Sorcerer insisted. Seto ignored him, coming up with another idea. He pulled himself into a stance.

"Come get some, asshole," he snarled at Akujin. Akujin let out a roar and lunged at Seto. Seto swung the staff in an upwards motion, hitting Akujin's hands. The sword flew straight up and out of Akujin's hand. Seto then punched the madman in the stomach and performed a spinning kick, connecting right with the man's face and sending him flying out the window. Akujin managed to vanish before hitting the ground.

Seto held his hand out and caught the sword as it fell toward the ground. "Humph. That's what you get for messing with me." He looked down at the sword. Looks like I'm getting Nicholas to finish that paperwork.

Joy was just starting to doze off when the front doorbell rang. Only half awake and being the only one in the house, she dragged herself downstairs to the front door, neglecting to grab a robe to cover her night gown. She opened the front door to find Seto Kaiba standing there.

"Kaiba!" she gasped, then she noticed what she was wearing. "Ack! Damn it, Kaiba! You could have called or something! And what the hell! It's fucking freezing outside. Get the hell in here!" She grabbed Kaiba, who was a bit flushed by Joy's appearance, and dragged him inside. "What's going on? What do you have behind your back?"

"Um…get dressed first, please."

Joy smirked at Kaiba's nervousness. "Aw…what's wrong? Am I that repulsive?" She pouted a bit.

Kaiba glared at her, then tried to think of something to say. "No…it's just that… Aw, damn it, Houyoku! Get some fucking clothes on! I have the last item behind my back and we have to get it to Moto before Akujin comes for it."

Joy blinked, then turned to the stairway. "I'll be right back."

Joy: All three items, everyone! That's right, count 'em – three! What will happen next, you may ask? Just check out the next chapter to find out! Oh, and btw – 'otousan' means 'father' in Japanese. And of course, for those who didn't know, 'oyasumi' means 'good night' Till next time, review!