Sorry this took so long. I've been doing some revisions. Please send me your reviews. Thanks.

Chapter 1: Family Ties

Six year old Mokuba looked up from his sand castle to see his big brother Seto staring at Mira again, who was coming out of the office where kids went to get new parents. Mira looked sad as she came over to them. The twelve year old Seto looked at her anxiously.

"Well?" he asked, "what happened?" Mira shrugged.

She was pretty for being only twelve. Her hair was aqua colored, but what were most unnerving about her were her eyes. While one was as pale blue – green as her hair, the other was a light golden yellow color. It was easy to see why both Seto and Mokuba liked her. However, their bond went deeper than a mutual friendship.

They had met at the orphanage four years ago when Mira had protected Mokuba from some older boys, earning her the brother's instant friendship. Over the years she had become like family to them. Mokuba considered Mira his sister almost as much as Seto was his brother. They were so close that Mira had been included when Seto had gotten the lockets that the three now wore around their necks. The lockets were reminders of their bond.

They were shaped like Duel Monsters cards. Inside of these lockets were photos. Seto's held one of Mokuba and Mira, Mokuba's had pictures of Seto and Mira, and Mira's held pictures of Seto and Mokuba. The photos were current, showing Mokuba's youthful face, his long unruly black hair hanging sown his back. Seto had a dreamy but determined look on his face. He was playing chess, and was winning badly. He was not smiling, and his somber mood was increased by the uniformed jacket he wore. Seto had never been a normal boy. He was exceedingly smart, and had caught the interest of many adults who had wanted to adopt him, but none of them had worked out.

Seto now looked at Mira in concern. Ever since he and Mokuba had been sent to the orphanage and they had met Mira, Seto had become extremely protective, of Mokuba especially, but of Mira as well. He had sworn to protect them, and he always kept his promises. He had told them that he would never let anything happen to them, and that he would never let them be split up. He had kept his promise so far, although it had been difficult. Because of Seto's intelligence, he had attracted many who had wanted to adopt them. Seto had been able to prevent most of these wanted adoptions because he had refused to be split from Mokuba and Mira, and all of the adults had wished to adopt Seto only.

Mira knelt down in the sand next to Mokuba. "Hey Mokie, cool sand castle!"

Mokuba smiled up at her, his youthful grey eyes glinting in the sun. "It's not just a sand castle Mira. It's an amusement park with lots of rides and people!"

Mira smiled. "That sounds great Mokie!"

"Just you wait Mokie," said Seto. "We'll build our own amusement park. It'll be huge, and everyone will be able to come and enjoy it. We'll have the most famous amusement park ever! We'll all run it, and it'll be so much fun!"

Mokuba laughed with joy and hugged Seto. Mira smiled, knowing that Seto would keep his promise to Mokuba. He always kept his promises, until now, at least. But it wasn't his fault. There was nothing that could be done. Her brother, Dartz was angry with her because she refused to betray Seto anymore, and so he was pulling her out so that he could punish her. She smiled at Mokuba.

"Hey Mokie, do you have a name for your park yet?"

"No."

"You think of a good name for it while I talk to Seto, okay. A name is important for the most successful and famous amusement park in the world."

She got up and walked a ways to a group of trees where she had first met Seto and Mokuba. She watched a group of orphans laughing and sighed, crossing her arms.

"Mira, what's wrong?" asked Seto, who had come up behind her.

"Seto, the people I just saw… they want to adopt me." She turned away. I can't tell him now. It's not time yet.

"What!" exclaimed Seto, "they can't!"

"They can Seto, and you know that. They said that if someone wanted to adopt me and not you that they could because we aren't blood relations. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. I didn't want to upset Mokuba, and I don't know how to tell him."

"But, but that's too soon! Are they still here?"

"No. They're coming back tomorrow, but it doesn't matter. We only have one more day together."

"I-I'll talk them out of it. I have to! Mira, I swore that I would never let anything happen to you and Mokuba, and I never break my promises!" His voice had taken on a steely tone, and he looked determined. Mira knew that look. He would make sure she stayed, or die trying.

"Seto, no," said Mira sadly. "There is nothing that can be done. You knew that this would eventually happen. We both did. Seto, I do not want to leave either, but there is really no other choice." Mira's oddly colored eyes filled with tears. "One day Seto. That's how long we have. How am I going to tell Mokuba?" Mira stopped talking, and a tear slid down her cheek. Seto looked at her for a moment, then enveloped her in his small embrace. She cried into his neck, something she had never done before. Seto held her, unsure of what to do. He assured her that everything would be fine. After a time, she stopped crying, and pulled away from Seto to stare into his deep blue eyes. They were not icy, but a warm blue. "I love you Seto," she whispered. Then, she kissed him on the cheek.

Seto looked over at Mokuba, slightly red from the kiss. "We should tell Mokuba," said Seto.

Mira shuddered. "Okay."

Seto hesitated. "Wait, I want to give you this first." He opened a pouch on his belt and took out his Duel Monsters deck and pulled a card off the top. He looked at it for a long time, then thrust it at Mira. "Here, take this to remember me by."

Mira took it and gasped. "I can't take this! This is your Blue – Eyes White Dragon, your rarest card! You love this card! There are only five in the world!" Mira closed her eyes momentarily. He's not even supposed to have this card. There are only supposed to be four in the world. This isn't right. I can't tell him. Why did I have to get involved with my brother's evil works?

"Mira, please take it. Let it remind you of our friendship." Mira looked at him and nodded, then took out her deck. She pulled out two cards and handed them to Seto. Even though he's not supposed to have these cards, I'm still going to give them to him. It's not my fault that my brother changed time. I love Seto, and I am going to give this to him. I am not like my brother, and I don't have to change my life because of him.

"Here Seto. Take these."

"But, but this is your deck master. You love your Black Luster Soldier. I can't take this."

"Yes, it is my strongest card, just as your Blue – Eyes is your strongest card. Now we will have a part of each other in our decks. Now come on. I have to break this to Mokuba."

They went over to Mokuba. "Mokuba, tomorrow is the last day I am going to be with you. I'm going away." Mokuba looked at her, not understanding what she was saying. Mira knelt down next to him. "Mokuba, I'm leaving day after tomorrow, and I'm not coming back. You can't come with me, and I don't know if I'll ever see you again." Her eyes filled with tears again. She was being forced to leave those she loved the most, all because of her loyalty and refusal to obey her brother. Mira was angry that her life was being ruined because of her brother. She loved Seto and Mokuba like no one else. Seto, who was the most loyal and determined boy she had ever known, and sweet Mokuba who climbed into her bed at night when he was scared after Seto was asleep.

Now he looked at her with his big grey eyes. "Never?" he asked, and there was a tremble in his voice.

"I don't know," said Mira

Mokuba stared at Mira, then flung himself at her, destroying half of his sand castle. "Don't go Mira! Stay with us!" he cried.

"I can't Mokuba. I have no choice." This time she was right when she said it.

"But I don't want you to go!" He cried into her as she held him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

"I know. I don't want to go either. I love you more than anyone. You're family to me."

"Will you come and visit us when we have our amusement park?" he asked, his tears starting to disappear?

"Maybe. I'll try." She said.

"Promise?" he asked.

"I promise."

"Oh, okay." Mokuba untangled himself from Mira and went back to rebuilding his sand castle.

Mira remained where she was, remembering all that had she had been through with these two brothers. It would all be over soon, and there was nothing she could do about it. And it was all because of Dartz.