Chapter 3- The Funeral

Anzu decided to spend her last night at her own house before she moves in with Seto. He told her that he will pick her up in the morning when she was ready. Anzu spent the entire night walking around the house and looking at everything. She wanted the memories of her parents to last; she doesn't ever want to forget the times they had with each other. In the morning, she packed all of her clothes, some necessities and all of the picture albums.

Seto came in the morning like he said he would in his big shiny black limo. Roland helped her carry her luggage into the limo and they drove back to the mansion silently with Anzu and Seto sitting in the back together.

They arrived at the Kaiba Mansion in a matter of minutes, and Seto led her inside. Anzu hadn't actually had a good look at it before ever since she was there, but now that she did, all she could do was stare at it in awe. The foyer was grande, and the ceilings were so far up that she could barely see the top.

"Isn't this place a bit big for just you and Mokuba?" She asked still looking up in awe.

"What can I say; I like to live in style."

Anzu looked at him with his smug look on his face, and couldn't help but to crack a smile herself. She better get used to it, because this is her home from now on.

"Anzu, will you be living with us now?" Mokuba asked as he latched onto her waist.

She nodded and smiled as a big smile crossed his face and he jumped in the air from excitement.

"YESSS!" he screamed.

Seto rolled his eyes and told her to follow him as he headed up the grand staircase.

"Pick a room, and I'll have Roland deliver your belongings."

Anzu looked at him quizidly. "I thought I was going to sleep in the guest room."

"Since you are going to be permanently living here now until further notice, it's only fair to give you your own actual room instead of the guest room." He replied.

Anzu got excited and ran down the corridor opening door after door until she found one that she liked. It was obvious that Seto had done all the interior designing, because everything was very much his style. Anzu finally picked out a room; it had light blue walls, her own television and DVD player, a computer on a large desk, a king sized bed, a walk in closet which was also painted light blue and her very own bathroom with a shower and hot tub. The room was carpeted with a darker shade of blue and even the door knob and faucets were shaped as the blue eyes white dragon heads. It was elegant and she loved it.

"Kaiba, can I really have this room?" she asked unsurely.

"It's yours"

Anzu squealed and ran up to hug him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist for several seconds. "Thank you so much Kaiba…"

Seto was speechless, and he grew stiff. He was defiantly not used to having girls throw their arms around him. 'Damn women and their sudden display of affections', he thought to himself.

The funeral was the day after. Seto took the liberty to arranging everything. It was stressful, everyone was nervous and on edge, but he was worried about Anzu. She had started to drift into her own world again as the dreadful day approaches.

He silently walked towards her room, which was right across from his own. He knocked three times and waited. No one answered so he turned the knob and found that it was unlocked. He stuck his head in to see what she was doing; he found her sitting on the window pane, hugging her stuffed kitty, while looking out the window. She didn't seem to notice him.

Seto went over and put a hand on her shoulder. "Mazaki…are you alright?"

With the sudden impact, Anzu snapped out of her thoughts and looked up.

"Kaiba? What is it?"

"I asked if you were alright, Mazaki." He said staring at her.

She looked down at her lap, playing with the wings on her stuffed animal. "Yeah, I'm alright…I suppose I'm just a bit…scared" she admitted.

"It's okay to be scared you know"

Anzu gave him a small smile, but he could tell it was forced.

"I wonder where they are right now."

Seto sat on the opposite side of her on the window pane, he too looking out the window. "They are somewhere far far away where no one can reach as happy as they ever were, looking down watching over you."

He scowled at himself after those words left his mouth. 'I'm going too soft. It's all Mokuba's fault.'

"You really believe that Kaiba?" she asked.

"I know it."

All was silent in the Kaiba Manor, Everyone has gotten up extremely early; the Funeral was at 11am. It was more like no one could sleep, not with what they knew was to come. Anzu stood in her room in front of a mirror combing her auburn hair that was now past her shoulders. She wore a simple yet long black dress with matching black gloves and a matching black hat with a large rim, with stiletto heels.

Seto and Mokuba respectively dressed in all black as well along with a matching tie. They watched as Anzu descended down the stairs, the rim of her hat covering most of her face when she has her head down. Although they cannot see her, but with her bottom lips trembling from time to time, they knew that she was trying to hold back her tears.

The limo ride to the funeral was quiet, no one uttered a word. Seto and Mokuba both glanced at each other and then back at Anzu with worried looks. In a matter of minutes, the car had stopped and they have arrived.

"Are you ready?" Seto asked her.

Anzu took a deep breathe and nodded, taking Seto's offered hand to help her out of the car.

As they walked towards the burial site, her heart began to grow heavier. She saw her parent's colleagues and friends, all weeping silently to themselves. At the same time, Yugi, Ryou, Tristan, Joey, and Duke came to greet her; all giving her a warm hug. She was glad to see them; she hadn't seen them since before she left to go to New York.

There was now mutual respect between her friends and Kaiba after all he's done for her. They acknowledged each other with a nod.

"It's good to see you again Anzu, we all been so worried about you." Yugi said as he embraced her. Yugi had grown over the years, and he was now as tall as Anzu.

"I'm so sorry I ignored you, I didn't mean to" She said, tears threatening to spill.

"Don't worry about it" He said.

Seto watched as Anzu and her friends reunite. He felt awkward being here, he didn't know her parents, or anyone else that was here. All he knew was her and her friends. He figured he was only here to pay his respects and to give emotional support.

Anzu then proceeded to walk towards the front with Seto beside her. She was stopped by someone running up to her and enveloping her into their arms. That person was crying into her shoulders.

"Anzu, you're here. I tried so hard to reach you, but I just couldn't find you."

It was her mother's childhood friend. She was sobbing into her handkerchief now, with her husband behind her rubbing the small of her back for comfort.

"I can't believe this happened" She sobbed. "This shouldn't have happened to them!"

Anzu looked at her sadly. "Auntie Betty…"

What else could she have said? It was a hard situation, especially on her. She tried to stay strong but she could feel her tears building up behind her eyes. As Anzu got to the very front, she froze. There on the tables were two coffins with her parent's body inside. Anzu's breath got caught in her throat as she brought a shaky hand over her mouth, tears streaming freely down her cheeks.

This was the first time Anzu had seen her parents ever since she left for America. She hadn't even come see their body when the sergeant called her, not believing a word he had told her. They looked peaceful and paper white. Under the makeup that was on them, she can faintly see the scars that they bare from the collision.

"Mom…Dad…" She choked.

Seto came and put his hands around her shoulder and led her away from the devastating sight.

"Stay strong" he said. "You'll make it through this."

When everyone had gone up and made their speech and said their goodbyes, it was time to close the coffins.

"NO" Anzu cried as the covers closed. Her last time ever seeing them again.

"Please, no not yet!"

There was nothing she could do. They began lowering the caskets into the holes they dug. Everyone had formed two lines, taking turns dropping a single rose down and bowing to their final resting place.

"Mom, Dad!" Anzu screamed.

"Don't leave me please!" She sank to her knees and was sobbing uncontrollably now. Everyone looked at her with a sympathetic expression, wishing it didn't have to happen to her.

Seto bent down to her level and embraced her, letting her freely cry into his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, rubbing small circles on her back. He didn't want to see her like this.

"Shhh…it's okay" he said. He lifted her chin up and whipped away a tear.

Mokuba had run to Yugi for comfort, as he wasn't able to control his own tears as well.

Anzu had requested that she stay for a while longer watching her parent's graves. Seto stayed with her, comforting her and letting her cry on him until she felt better.

Her body shook with each wave of heartbreaking sobs. Seto felt helpless, he wished he could do something. But there's nothing he can do at this point except hold her and comfort her.

Anzu touched her parent's grave stones as a single tear fell on it.

"Goodbye mom, dad. I'll always remember you."

R&R

A/N- Thanks to…

Ayame11midori

Lindajrjt

Kyokoaurora

Rose-Dragonfire

Thank you my dears 3