"Saori, I'm leaving for Russia, and I will be back as soon as I can," Alman said to her before his departure. "Remember, you are my baby girl. always."

My baby girl …What did he mean by that?

Legally, Alman Kido was her father; but biologically, he wasn't.

Or at least, that was what she had been told.

But Seiya insisted that Alman Kido is her real father based on his facial expression in a picture, and he sounded so confident as if it is a hard fact written in stone.

Physically, Saori and Alman didn't look that much alike; the only identical trait they had was their eye color. From her biology class, Saori had learned that every individual's genetic profile is unique of its own. Meaning, two full-blooded siblings could resemble each other as much as two unrelated strangers. Relationship-wise, the bond between two unrelated people could be as strong as the bond between two blood-related ones, depending on their history and interactions. To sum it up, the only way to know the real truth would be through DNA testing.

And that could be done at home.

Online, Saori looked up testing kits for paternity DNA. To her surprise, it wasn't that expensive at all. The kit itself was less than $50 though the lab process would be an additional $150 charge. On top of that, one company offered 50% off on an additional DNA heritage test.

Great.

So she ordered two testing kits, one for paternity and one for her heritage, with overnight delivery.

She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Things had gotten better with her problems solved one by one.

For the house, the carpets were dried and fans were taken away. Aldebaran said that the replacements for the damaged floors, walls, and ceilings could wait until Alman's return since they are not essentials. Aiolus did ask Shura about Alman's insurance, but Shura refused to tell him since it's confidential. However, Shura also said that if Alman Kido fails to return after six months of departure and was declared missing, then he could contact Saori.

That was a relief since she didn't have to pay anymore gigantic bills out of her pocket for the time being.

As for the case against Cassius, Milo drafted a statement on her behalf. He explained to Saori that in a criminal case, it is the state's responsibility to press charges. The statement that he drafted is a complaint which Milo will forward to the state authority after Saori signs it. The state will then decide what to do to Cassius, including her requested restraining order.

"In a civil case, you can determine what to sue him for," Milo told her on the phone. "You have your hospital bills? You can still sue him for pain and suffering."

"Thanks but no thanks." Saori was very determined with her decision. "Cassius has no money, or I don't think he has any. I just want him off my back, forever."

"Fine, consider my service for you ends after I send your statement to the authorities. If you need me for anything else, call me."

"It's hope that never happens. Thanks Milo."

After the testing kit arrived, Saori looked at it together with Seiya.

"You think it'd be accurate?" Seiya was skeptical.

"It says it's 99.9% accurate on the box," Saori said. "All I need is three swabs from the cheek."

"But what about your father's samples?"

Good question, but not without an easy answer.

According to the instructions, hair can substitute cheek swabs. Since Alman Kido lived in this mansion, he got to have his hair somewhere in this house.

Together, Saori and Seiya approached Alman's master bedroom.

"I'm going in there alone, you wait by the door," Saori told Seiya, as if they were in a spy film.

"Whatever you say, princess."

Alman's king-sized bed was very neatly tidied. Saori started with the pillows, but she didn't find any hair.

Instead, she found a photo.

It was a picture of a blond woman holding a toddler.

On the back of the picture, there was a note written in Russian.

So Alman knew someone from Russia. That means that he didn't just go there for business, did he?

With her phone, she used Google translate to decipher the note.

Dear Alman,

Love you forever.

Natasha and Hyoga

The note was dated too – it was before she was born.

So, Alman hadn't been faithful to Guraad? She looked at the picture again and found Natasha had wavy blonde hair and blue eyes like herself.

Could Natasha be her real mother?

No wonder Guraad never liked her.

Seiya waited a long time until Saori finally came out with one piece of hair.

"You're sure that's his?"

"The chances are high."

Was Alman Kido her biological father?

She would find out in weeks.

Maybe by then he would be back from Russia with Natasha and she would have her real family.

Seiya walked her to the post office to mail out the kit.

"You know, I don't know what the results will say," Saori told Seiya on their way out from the post office. "But there's one thing that I do know."

"What's that?"

"I want to meet your sister Seika," Saori said. "After the restraining order against Cassius is done and your service as my bodyguard ends, I would like to meet your sister. I'll tell her that while you act like a jerk sometimes, you are a good guy. It's sad to see two siblings not talking to each other."

"Thanks but not thanks," Seiya said. "My sister and I, we have our history."

"But look at Aiolus–"

"Here we go again!"

"He and his brother don't always agree with each other," Saori went on. "But they are close."

"Not all siblings are like Aiolus and his brother," Seiya said. "My friend Shun and his brother Ikki don't talk to each other either."

"Sad, that two brothers can't get along."

I may have a brother too, Saori thought, referring to the toddler in the picture. But would he even want to talk to me?

"Dohku is having a party at his restaurant," Seiya changed the subject. "He said that he wants you to be there."

"But–."

"Just come with me," Seiya took her by the hand.

Dohku was having a party with his martial arts pupils, but the party was actually thrown for Saori to celebrate her eighteenth birthday.

A huge cake was placed in front of her. Seiya, with a smirk, added whipped cream and chocolate syrup on top of it.

"I hate you Seiya," Saori said sarcastically, though she was touched. "This got to be 5000 calories."

"You said that you spent your eighteenth birthday alone," Seiya said. "Eighteenth birthday meant a lot for us street kids."

"Yep," Jabu agreed. "It means we are on our own, no longer the state's responsibility."

With a small dish, Saori took a small piece and then after her, everyone else got a slice.

"Did you file the police report?" Dohku asked Saori, who ate her cake like taking medicine.

"My lawyer took care of that," Saori replied. "He submitted a statement on my behalf."

"Just a statement?" Jabu asked. "You are not suing that asshole?"

"Milo asked me if I wanted to sue him, and I said no. Lawsuits can take a while and I want to get rid of Cassius once and for all. Plus, I'm paying Milo by the hour, so I have to use his service wisely."

"How much are you paying him?" Shun asked.

"$300 per hour."

Hearing that, everyone almost fell out of their chairs.

"Sorry that I didn't learn about the incident sooner," Shun said. "My brother Ikki is a cop and I could've asked him to help you."

"If he answers your call," Jabu said.

Eying Seiya, Shiryu said, "You really owe Aiolus a lot."

"Speaking of Aiolus," Saori eyes brightened. "I think he's at the front to pick up his orders."

Indeed, Aiolus was waiting at the register in his suit and tie as usual.

"Aiolus!" Saori shouted and waved at him.

Smiling, Aiolus came to her. "How's everything going?"

"Fantastic! The house is fixed as it is, and the statement against Cassius is filed. And we were just talking about you."

"Oh, really?"

"It's nothing bad," Saori laughed.

"I hope not," Aiolus said, then he turned to Seiya. "Good to see you again, Seiya."

"Same here."

Shunrei came with Aiolus' orders.

"Here, take some cake with you," Saori offered. She sliced two pieces and placed them in a container. "One for you and one for Aiolia, from Seiya and I."

From Seiya and I.

Seiya did like the sound of that.

At that very moment, the front door opened. A tall, middle-aged woman dressed in black walked in with a big stuffed animal - a black three-headed dog.

"Hello everyone," she introduced herself. "I'm Saori's mother."