Forever, My Puppy

(A/N: Remember, this chapter takes place between 12 and 13.)

Seto waited at the bottom of the stairs. Serenity slowly decended and looked at him, her normally cheerful eues were red and swollen. She was crying softly as Seto led her outside and into the waiting car.

He had one important errand to run before accompaning Serenity to identify her mother's body. He had to visit the jewelery shop where he'd had Joey's ring made.

"Serenity, I have a quick errand to run on the way. do you mind commming with me?" He smiled at her. "It's go get your brother's ring."

"When are you going to ask?" She asked, finally destracted from her tears.

Seto looked at her and shrugged. The truth was he didn't know when. He'd planned on asking Joey on his birthday, but things didn't happen as planned. Now, with the daath of Joey and Serenity's parents and Joey's health, the timing just had not been right.

"I had planned on asking him on his birthday, but well, you know that didn't happen. Now with your father's latest stunt, who knows when I'll ask him. "Seto sighted. "Maybe I shouldnt ask him."

Serenity looked at Seto with alarm. She knew he loved her brother very much and the events of late had not helped matters any. At this point, she wanted Joey to be happy, and not live in fear. Neither of them had to worry now, though.

"Seto, you cant control things all the time. Stuff happens and no one knows the outcome. I guess what I am trying to say is weather or not you think this may not be the right time, it could very well be."

The car came to a slow stop, then the car door opened. Seto stepped out of the car and offered his hand to serenity. She took it and slid out of the car. Her eyes widened and she gasped at the store. It was built in a Victorian style, with windows displaying the name of the store, but nothing else.

A guard opened the door and smiled at sEto as he ushered sErenity in . The jeweler smiled up at seto and slid a small black box across the counter to him. pic picked up the box and opened it.

Serenity stole a peek around Seto's elbow and gasped. A thick gold band sat nestled in the box. Two small dragons were etched into the gold, each only had one eye exposed. Their eyes were made of one ruby and one sapphire. In their claws was a diamond. Serenity knew her brother would love the ring. It was the finest ring she'd seen made for him. She became aware that the jeweler was talking to Seto.

"You will definately blow him away with this, Mr. Kaiba. Your boyfriend must love dragons for you to have this desgine for him."

"Ah, it's a long story Di Vinci." Seto addressed the man. He was clearly Italian, but lived and worked in Japan. "But our favorite duel monsters are dragons, thus the blue and red eyes on the dragons."

"Had you given me more time, I would have enameled the dragons, or had them set with onyx and diamonds instead."

"This will do, it's betten than I had expected. Thank you."

Seto pulled out his wallet and slid Di Vinci a credit card. He whispered something the jeweler and then turned to watch Serenity browse. The assistant stepped into the room as Di Vinci went into a back room. Serenity looked over the case of rings and saw a delicate amythest ring. Lying next to it was a necklace and earrings that had the same delicate gold patterens to it. The assistant slipped forward and opened the case. He pulled out the tray and handed Serenity the ring. She tried it on, carefully slipping it onto her right hand and held it up. Seto smiled and nodded to the assistant. Serenity reluctantly set the ring back on the display and gasped as the assistant whisked it to the back to put the additional charge on Seto's card. She smiled and hugged Seto.

"Thank you!"

"You are very welcome, Serenity, but you can't have this untill your birthday.. Okay?" Serenity nodded into his neck.


Almost half an hour later, they stood outside the hospital where Serenity was to meet the detective. She paced nervously, her tears back. She batted impatiently at them with her hand untill Seto offered her a pack of kleenax. The detective arrived and led them through the building. Seto stood outside as Serenity went into the morgue to identify her parent's bodies. She hadn't wanted Joey to come becaus he'd been through too much lately, and this could hurt him more. She came back out, crying harder. Seto took off his trench coat, placed it around her shoulders and led her to the car. Seto sat holding her on the ride home. She cried softly, soaking his shirt with her tears.

"When we get home, I just want to spend sometime outside, Seto. I want to be alone with my thoughs, find a way to say good-bye to Mom." Seto nodded mutely, allowing the girl to have her say.

Once home, Seto left Serenity outside and went inside. He went into the study to think alone. He opened the box and sighed. The ring was stunning, and he knew Joey would NOT say no to him. It just was a matter of timming. Serenity was still crying outside, her sof sobs turning into desperate wails as her greif fully engulfed the mansion. Soon, he heard silence outside and was about to call his guards to investigate when a soft knock sounded at his door.

"Come in"

Serenity opened the door and stepped into the room. She walked over to a chair infront of his desk and sat. Her eyes were red from crying, but she had a weak smile on her face.

"Why don't you ask him tonight? He won't expect it, I think he thinks you are going to wait till after the funeral."

"He doesn't know when I'll ask, he doesn't even know I have the ring. However, I think you are right. He does need something to get his mind off this gloom."

"I know Joey's upstairs listening to your Phantom of the Opera cd. Mokuba put him up to it. Just play the song 'All I Ask of You', I'll set it up, take the remote on the balcony and then play it. I'll go to Mokuba's window and go in there."

"Wait.. You are NOT taking my..." Seto stopped mid sentance when Serenity held up her hand.

"I'll push play on the remote then toss it onto the chair by the window. Okay?"

Seto smiled at her enthusiasm and stood. He picked up the box and followed her out of the room.

Once near the door to his room, Seto paused. Serenity went in ahead of him and talked to Joey for a moment. Then he heard the music stop and then all was quiet. That was his cue to enter the room. Seto took a deep breath before entering the room.