This is the longest chapter so far. Twice as long as the average, at about 4,400 words. Considering the last chapter clocked in at 3,500, I'm rather surprised at how naïve I was, to think that this section could be contained in a single update.

It's not that Seto's birthday is such a momentous event that it can't be done without vomiting on the page. It's just that I'm so used to writing Seto a certain way, and this is the first time I've ever flipped everything I knew about him on its head.

And showcasing that on the occasion of his birth seems entirely too appropriate.

1.

"At what point would it be prudent to rescue him?"

Pegasus Crawford has the face of a man who has succeeded where all others have failed. His visible eye is sparkling, his grin is wider than it has any right to be, and whenever he speaks, his voice has more than a twinge of laughter in it.

Ellie, standing next to the other adults because she apparently finds it amusing, says, "You look like you're leading this group of suburban superheroes, and everyone got a memo telling them to wear their civvies . . . except you."

Pegasus turns to look at Ellie, blinks at her, then throws his head back and laughs. "Yes, well, what better way to hide my true identity than by forcing people to stare at my clothes? Let us assume I were dressed normally. If anyone attempted to find anything about me, they'd have to scrutinize. But, by dressing like this, the only thing anyone will notice about me is how ridiculous I look. I'm only slightly disappointed I wasn't able to track down a plumed hat to finish it up. The costume is the disguise."

Ellie stares at the man for a moment, then cracks a grin fit to split her face. "I like you. So, you're the one set this all up?" She gestures around the yard, and watches Mokuba drag his brother around. Seto is stumbling, trying vainly to stay upright, his face is as red as the strawberries that top his birthday cakes, but he seems to be enjoying himself. In spite of himself.

"I did," Pegasus says, "with the assistance of your gracious director." He pats Dan on the shoulder.

"Where's Mama Hathaway?" Ellie wonders. "Figure she wouldn't miss this one."

"She'll be here," Dan says. "She said she had something come up that she had to get done, before she could show."

"Hmmm . . ."

"Mokie!" Seto is calling out. "You can't just punch the piñata! That's not—no! Put that down!"

Yugi Mutou and Téa Gardner have finally worked their way through the crowd and have caught up to their friend. They're both laughing as they watch Mokuba struggle to understand how the piñata game works. They try to back up Seto as he walks his brother through an explanation. But the more Mokuba hears, the more excited he gets, and it's clear that he wants to start right now, and that means he isn't even close to listening. He wants to know if the sparkle-dragon really ate that much candy.

Ellie rolls her eyes. "We'd better go facilitate something," she says. "If that kid gets any more flustered, he's gonna convince himself that all these friends are a bad influence on his baby boy."

"Hm?" Pegasus raises an eyebrow at her.

"Back before all this shi—stuff," here Ellie eyes Dan with a glare fit to burn him from the inside out, "started happening, Yagami had the pipsqueak pretty well in line. I'm betting he thought everything made sense, he knew how to handle it all, and the kid was happy. That's all that mattered. Now, everything's breaking down." She jabs a finger at Pegasus, then sweeps it over to Dan and the Mutous. "If y'all wanna make sure that all this nice-nice you're laying at his feet is gonna stick, then we'd better convince him that it isn't gonna ruin everything he's been trying to build since he got here."

Pegasus looks stunned for a moment.

Then his gaze turns thoughtful.

Then his grin comes back.

". . . You are absolutely right."

2.

Natsumi puts a hand on Pegasus's shoulder as he starts walking toward the two boys that have been the objects of his thoughts for so long. "Mister Crawford."

Pegasus glances back. "Yes?"

"Be careful." The look on the Mutou matriarch's face is one of a field general preparing for a battle she doesn't think she can win. "I'm sure you've seen it, just as much as we have. That little boy is the center of Seto's world. And God only knows how much he's sacrificed for that."

Pegasus stops moving. So does Ellie.

Sugoroku, with his thumbs tucked behind the straps of his overalls, looks like an old-time mayor. "The way he looks after the little one, I think it's clear they haven't relied on adult supervision for a long time. Seto's become a father, and he won't take kindly to anyone infringing on his right to raise his son. That's what you're getting at, isn't it?"

Natsumi nods.

"That's actually about the size of it," Dan puts in; he sounds like he doesn't want to admit this. "You've managed to get through to him in ways I don't think I'll ever understand, Mister Crawford, but on this . . . like the lady said. Be careful."

Pegasus offers a nod of his own, watches the Yagamis for a while, then nods again. "Worry not, my lovelies. I think I've figured out how to approach this."

Pegasus marches on, his gait easy. He weaves through the children, almost like he's dancing. By the time he approaches the Yagamis, Seto is kneeling down with both hands on Mokuba's shoulders, speaking softly to him. Yugi and Téa are standing to the side, as silent as they would be at a funeral.

". . . understand?" Seto is saying now. "I know it's a party, but that doesn't mean you get to—" He stops suddenly, looks up at Pegasus, and waits. He looks threatened, like a feral animal approached by hunters. "W-What?"

Pegasus holds up a hand. "Please. I meant not to interrupt you. Merely to let you know, I'd like to have a word with you if I could. When you're finished here." He very pointedly turns his attention away. "Pardon me," he says, "Missus Mutou? Could you do me a favor?" He gestures to the orphanage proper. "My associate is standing watch in the front yard, in case someone comes on business. I believe you met him the first time we were here? His name is Croquet. Tell him that I left a few things in the car." He glances quickly at Ellie, then leans over and whispers in Natsumi's ear. "A gift, for Miss McAllister."

Natsumi smiles. "Of course. I'd be happy to." She glances at the other children and crooks a finger. Yugi and Téa share a look, then follow Natsumi across the yard. Yugi waves awkwardly at Seto; Téa gives him a nod.

Seto doesn't react; he probably doesn't realize they're leaving.

Pegasus grins after them like a boy of twelve. "Thank you."

Once he is satisfied that no one is going to step on his business, Seto starts again: "Mokie. Look at me." Mokuba is watching his brother's friends. "Do you understand—Mokuba." At the sound of his full name, Mokuba snaps back to attention. Seto's face is carved from granite. "Just because we're at a party doesn't mean you don't have to behave. Do you understand? Mind your manners."

". . . Yes, Nii'tama." Mokuba hangs his head miserably. "Sorry."

Seto's smile comes back, and his entire being softens. "It's okay." He hugs the boy close. "It's okay, baby. You're just excited, aren't you?" A slow nod. "Just behave yourself, okay? Be a good boy."

"Good boy," Mokuba mumbles quietly.

Seto kisses his brother's forehead. "Good boy," he says again.

Pegasus grins at Sugoroku. "It seems Master Yagami has everything under control." Seto stands up, pulls his brother next to him—instinctively—and watches Pegasus for a while. There are far more emotions in those deep blue eyes than any eleven-year-old at his own birthday party should have.

The suspicion is back. The fear is back. The resignation of knowing that the other shoe is about to drop. He says, quietly: ". . . Thank you, Mister Crawford. This was very nice of you. I guess I don't . . . understand, but thank you."

A canned response, summoned merely out of stiff politeness. Surrounded by so much affluence, and so many smiling faces, Seto is clearly on edge. The irony of this is not lost on Mister Crawford. His most overt attempt at kindness has proven to be almost entirely counterproductive.

Unless . . .

Pegasus lowers himself on one knee.

"I have told everyone who has asked, that the orphans of my city deserve more than they are given," Pegasus says slowly. "I hope that you will forgive me for prying, but it is my understanding that you've not had the chance to behappy in quite some time. None of you have. I am keeping my word, using the resources I have been able to build in order to make a difference."

Seto is searching the man's face, looking for something that he's obviously having trouble finding.

Pegasus winks. "It just so happens that, today, you're getting special treatment."

"Why?" Seto's eyes aren't wet, but they seem to be on the precipice of becoming so, just the same. "I mean, obviously it's my birthday. But . . . why me? Why all this? Why . . . everything?"

Because the ghost of your mother has lodged into my subconscious mind, and she's bleeding into reality to reprimand me. That, or I've adopted your mother's image as my own personal Jiminy Cricket, and she actually has nothing to do with the woman who brought you into the world. I'm not honestly sure.

Pegasus looks up, over the boy's shoulder.

Yuki is standing there, watching him.

She shrugs.

"Because . . . I've been lucky. Luckier than most people my age. I've made the right connections, the right choices, and I've built something that most people don't have." Pegasus closes his eye, wondering if he should make a gamble like this, then decides that there's no way to tell unless he does. He continues: "I've decided to use what I've built to make my city a better place. I could give to charity. I have given to charity. I've used my name and influence in every way that I can think of. Except . . . on a personal level."

". . . I'm your charity case," Seto says flatly.

What has happened to this boy, that this is what brings back his cynicism?

"No," Pegasus says. "I believe, as fervently as I have ever believed anything, that you are someone I can trust to help me. You have a gift, Seto. I would like nothing more than to help you use it—if you'll have me—to make a change here. I want Domino to be a city that doesn't ignore its most vulnerable citizens. A city that puts actions behind its politicians' fancy promises."

Seto still looks unsure, but he no longer looks insulted.

Pegasus breathes deeply, and takes a plunge. ". . . It's what Cyndia would have wanted."

Seto's expression changes yet again. "Cyndia?"

Pegasus smiles wistfully. "My wife."

Something sparks in Seto's eyes, and he looks down at his brother for a moment before forcing himself to look Pegasus in the eye again. "I'm sorry," he says. The words are heavy with sincerity. He knows what it's like to lose someone irreplaceable. The boy bites his lower lip, then tries on a smile. "My dad—he said it was always good . . . to get married early. Before you're smart enough to know any better."

The laughter that bubbles up in Pegasus surprises him, and before he knows what's happening, he's giggling like a maniac. It takes him a long time to calm himself enough to talk. "Y-Your father . . . sounds like a wise man, Seto. I think I would have been honored to meet him."

"Pa-pah?" Mokuba says suddenly. The way he says it, the word rhymes with hacksaw. "Pa-pah coming?"

Seto flinches, but not as violently as he might have. "No, Mokie. He's not coming. Papa's dead. He's . . . in Heaven."

Mokuba's face screws up in confusion.

"Well," Pegasus says as he stands back up, "I do hope that my Cyndia has found your parents up there." He looks at the sky. A token gesture, but not without its romance. "I'm sure they would take great delight in meeting each other."

Pegasus turns away, and notes that Sugoroku Mutou and Ellie McAllister are both watching him.

Sugoroku smiles, nods approvingly, but says nothing.

Ellie, on the other hand, unhinges her jaw.

". . . Are you a fucking wizard?"

3.

Before the topic of opening presents can be brought up, Kristine Hathaway arrives on the scene. With her is an older woman, perhaps in her fifties. She's dressed in jeans, a turtleneck sweater, and Birkenstock sandals. There's a certain grandmotherly air about this woman, especially standing next to Kristine, who's opted for business casual.

None of the children notice her at first.

None of them likely would have noticed her, if not for Mokuba Yagami. No one was surprised anymore, when the youngest resident of the Children's Home shrieked and generally made a nuisance of himself in excitement. But there's something different this time, something that surprises even Seto.

For perhaps the first time in his young life, Mokuba forgets about his brother. He cries out, at the top of his tiny lungs: "Vawwy!"

The woman with Kristine stops dead, her eyes lock on Mokuba, and she immediately breaks into the widest smile anyone has ever seen. She hunkers down, sitting on her heels, and waits with open arms as Mokuba rockets across the yard to her.

"Oh, Mokuba, look at you! Such a big boy you are!" The woman stands back up, affecting a groan as she lifts Mokuba with her. "I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to do this, you're growing up so fast!" She kisses Mokuba's cheek. "How are you, little one?"

Mokuba is too excited to answer. He contorts himself into a pretzel to look back at Seto—he can't forget his brother for long—and calls out to him: "Nii'tama! Vawwy!"

Seto, for his part, has lost all semblance of his usual faculties. Again. He looks ready to pass out. Pegasus is studying the woman, saying nothing. Sugoroku is studying Seto, also saying nothing.

The woman smiles. ". . . Hello, Seto."

It's Ellie who finally breaks into the awkwardness of the situation and elbows Seto in the ribs. "Oi. Birthday boy. Mind introducing the rest of the class?"

It's a joke. Most of the children are too caught up in playing and eating ice cream to notice anything that Seto is doing, much less an old lady. He has precious few friends, and even he knows that the inclusion of the rest of his fellow orphans was just to keep them from being angry and resentful.

"She . . . she was . . . my parents' best friend," Seto murmurs softly, delicately. "She used to w-watch us. When my . . ."

"Ah. Your old babysitter, hm?" It's a mark of just how little Seto is listening that he doesn't react badly. Ellie rolls her eyes. "Well, don't just stand there like a dingus, go say hi. Give her a hug, do a rain dance, something." She pushes Seto forward.

Seto stumbles. "H-Hi . . . Valery. How are you . . . um . . . doing?"

The woman, now with a proper name, smiles and kneels down again to stroke back Seto's hair with one hand, while she holds Mokuba to her with the other. She is clearly nothing even close to a stranger to these boys. "Just fine. I'm sorry it's been so long."

Seto notices that Kristine is holding a large box, wrapped in bright blue paper. "You . . . you got me something?" he asks. He obviously still isn't used to this concept.

"Of course I did, silly." Valery chuckles. "Joel and I saved up for something special. I think you'll like it." She winks.

Pegasus steps up now. "It looks like Missus Mutou is on her way back." He smirks at Seto. "What say we get to the exciting part, hm? This isn't your only gift, you know." He gestures to one of the picnic tables, where a pile of presents has been put together.

"Vawwy," Mokuba whispers, still perched as he is against Valery's hip. He points. "This Pay-guh-sis."

Valery blinks, then eyes Pegasus. "A . . . pleasure to meet you, sir. Have you been looking after my boys for me?"

Pegasus bows his head. "I try to do my part. Pegasus Crawford, ma'am. The pleasure is mine."

Introductions continue as Natsumi Mutou returns with her two little soldiers in tow. Each are holding parcels of their own. Valery looks ready to cry, as she meets Seto's friends. When they all head for the Big Table so that Seto can take stock of his bounty—surely the most important of all rituals—she has a hand on Seto's back, and still hasn't let go of Mokuba.

Yugi has given his new friend a Magic & Wizards deck box, a case for his remaining cards, two sets of card sleeves, and five booster packs. "So you can start a collection right," he says, and blushes when Seto gives him an odd look.

Téa has opted for the boy's more intellectual pursuits, and has on offer a hardcover collector's edition of The Hobbit. "It's a great story. And my mom says the author wrote it for his son. As a bedtime story. So . . . you know. Maybe you could read it to your brother."

Mokuba, obviously with help from Sugoroku Mutou, has picked out a game of Trivial Pursuit, successfully combining both of his brother's primary hobbies. He tries to explain why this was a good idea, probably trying to remember what Sugoroku said in his initial sales pitch, but Mokuba's memory and vocabulary team up to sabotage him, so that his soliloquy makes about as much sense as an upside-down newspaper.

Seto, however, seems to follow along just fine. He smiles, and offers his brother a hug and another kiss on the forehead; he's done this far more often than usual today. A couple of onlookers snicker at this, but Seto offers them a gift of his own—an icy glare that promises broken bones and loose teeth—which silences them entirely too quickly.

Sugoroku holds out his hands. "I must admit that I have no gift to give you," he says gravely. "But! Here's what I have done, m'boy. My shop just so happens to be hosting Domino's Magic & Wizards City Championships this year. I've paid your entrance fee for the preliminary rounds next month."

Seto blinks. ". . . A tournament?"

"Indeed. I hope you're ready."

Seto's lips curve into a dangerous grin.

Pegasus, standing off to the side, chuckles.

Ellie doesn't present a box, but reaches into her jacket. "I, uh . . . didn't wrap anything. I'm cheap. But, uh . . . well. Yeah." She pulls out a carefully-folded, blue-and-grey scarf and presents it to her young housemate. "Thought about gettin' a blanket, but it felt weird. Next time you hafta take the kid outside to calm him down at night, you can make sure he's warm. Winter's coming, y'know. Gotta be responsible."

Seto takes the scarf, looks at it, smiles. "I will. Thank you."

"Oh, shut up. It's lame and you know it. Lookit all this loot you got."

"No, I . . . I mean it, Ellie. Thank you."

He wraps the scarf around his own neck, and looks rather proud to do so; particularly when Valery reaches over to adjust the way it fits. Ellie shakes her head. But she's clearly pleased, if the slight reddening of her face—and the fact that her lips keep twitching upward despite her best efforts—is any indication.

Dan and Kristine offer other winter-appropriate articles of clothing, including gloves, a fur-lined hat, and a new jacket. Unlike most children, Seto seems genuinely touched, especially when he realizes they have also gotten an outfit for Mokuba.

"It's not like he doesn't need winter clothes," Kristine says, "just because his birthday happens to be in July."

Last comes the big box from Valery, the least expected of all gifts. Seto seems like he doesn't want to bother with it; the gift of this woman from his past even being here is enough. He has precious few pleasant memories of the past few years, and Valery is clearly responsible for a number of them.

When Seto finally decides to open it, and realizes what it is that his old babysitter has gotten him, he once again forgets how to speak.

Ellie lets out a low whistle.

Yugi's eyes bug out of his head; even Téa seems impressed.

"You . . . got me a . . . Nintendo 64?" Seto whispers, awestruck.

Valery shrugs. "You love videogames. Have you been so busy taking care of your brother that you've forgotten?" Seto, slack-jawed, doesn't answer. "You can take it over to your friend's houses on weekends. Besides . . . haven't you said that you want to make games like this? You have to keep up on current trends if you're going to do that, you know."

Seto still has no words. He gets up and hugs Valery in absolute silence.

". . . Happy birthday, darling."

The other children have taken notice of this last offering. Some of them, anyway. A soft murmuring rises up about hooking it up in the TV room. The murmuring rises in volume, and eventually Seto notices it. He looks around, surprised at this sudden interest from his peers.

"Ah. Before you get started on the rest of your day . . . if I might be permitted to step forward?" Pegasus says, and Seto jumps because he's obviously forgotten how many people are here. Pegasus has been dead quiet for the past half-hour, observing and reflecting.

Seto turns. "Yes?"

"Perhaps you might permit Dan and Kristine to help the others set up the console? I'd like to speak with you alone for a moment."

"Um . . . okay. Sure."

Pegasus takes his young charge away from the crowd. The fact that Seto leaves his brother with Valery without a word, or a glance, is the clearest possible testament to his trust in her. Everyone—Dan, Kristine, the Mutous, even Ellie—can't hide their shock.

Pegasus speaks first, as they walk. "I know today has been rather overwhelming for you. I do apologize for that."

Seto fidgets. "I . . . no. It's okay. I just . . . I'm not . . ."

Pegasus sits down on the grass, leans back, and looks up at the sky. After a moment, Seto sits down with him. "I may have made a grave mistake earlier this week, Seto. I was supposed to have a private meeting with an old friend of mine, someone who is almost directly responsible for my company's success. Today."

Seto frowns. He doesn't speak.

"When I called to reschedule, he was irate, to say the least of it." Pegasus leans forward now, and looks Seto in the eye. "He wanted to know what was so important about this party, that I would be so rude to him. I was rather dismissive, you see, when I made that call."

"It's just a party," Seto says finally.

"No. It's not. It's your party. And . . . there's the rub, Seto. This friend of mine didn't understand why you, a . . . gutter rat from a backwoods orphanage . . . were more important than he was."

Seto's eyes flare up, and his jaw tightens. He clenches his small, delicate hands into fists. "And why am I?" he asks coolly.

"Well, for one thing, I don't take kindly to adults who stoop to insulting children. Particularly since, well, let's be honest. To most people, I'm still a child. But for another, I made a promise. To myself. You see, Seto, when I first arrived at this orphanage, I wasn't sure what I was going to get out of it. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had no idea how it was going to turn out. I promised myself that I would see it through, no matter what it cost me."

". . . Okay?"

"And then you came up. You and your brother. And I realized what I was going to do. Perhaps this is the wrong venue, and the wrong time, to do this, but I think I've danced around my intentions long enough for one lifetime." He rubs his chin, draws in a breath, lets it out.

Seto looks nervous now.

"Seto, I'm a young, reckless, idealistic socialite. I've spent my life pretending that I know more than I do, with grander aspirations than any decent human being would ever think of, and I'm probably entirely too young and arrogant to be in any kind of position of power. But . . . it's perhaps thanks to these qualities that I have been able to build the beginnings of what I like to call an empire in the gaming community. So I ask you . . . would you be interested in joining me?"

Seto is silent for a long time. "W-What?" he finally chokes out, breathless and unbelieving.

"I told you, some time ago, that I was here to adopt," Pegasus explains. "I don't see myself marrying again. This is my only real option, if I want to do my part to shape the next generation. Obviously, things aren't set in stone, in any fashion. I'm only partway through the process of qualification. I'm not fit to be anyone's guardian just yet. But I think it prudent to ask, before I move forward . . . if you, and your brother, would do me the honor of accepting my invitation."

Bright blue eyes grow too large to be allowed.

Pegasus holds out a hand.

"Seto Yagami . . . would you, and your brother, like to live with me?"