Kaiba walked down the streets of the village with Shada by his side. "What are you looking for Seto?"
"There have been reports of a shadow creature, the black dragon with red eyes. I want to add it to my collection." He scanned the streets looking for any abnormalities and dark feelings in the people.
"Come back when you can earn some money!" A young boy was thrown out of a house while his father closed the door locking him out.
Kaiba looked at the dirt on his face, the visible bruises on his body, and the torn rags that served as his clothing. He banged on the door for a bit longer before walking away looking dejected. "Shada, let's follow him."
"Do you think he has the shadow creature?"
"We've had no luck up to this point. I'll try anything." Kaiba started following after the boy with Shada. He ran down an alley trying to keep up with the boy so he would not lose him. He eventually caught up to the boy who was trying to find work at the market with no luck. Kaiba walked over to him shocking him when he put a hand on his shoulder. "Hold still." The boy was too shocked to move. "Shada."
The man nodded his head holding up the Millennium Key to the boy. "Incredible!" He was shocked when he saw the dragon.
"He has it?"
"Indeed, but the dragon is attached to the boy. Removing it will destroy him."
Kaiba knelt before the trembling boy trying to comfort him. "What's your name?"
"Joseph."
"Joseph, would you like to come with us to the palace?"
"Kaiba…" Shada was interrupted by a piercing glare from him.
"Why do you want me? Am I in trouble?"
"Nothing of that sort. Maybe you'd like some food, a bed, some new clothes?"
"Really?" He asked staring Kaiba directly in the eyes. Kaiba stood up and extended his hand to the boy. Joseph paused for a few seconds before grabbing it.
"Good choice." Kaiba started walking with the young boy by his side. He looked at Shada. "Don't tell the pharaoh about this. He needs to be kept off the streets."
"You have my word." Shada said going over the situation in his mind. He knew Kaiba's intentions were mostly pure. Joseph ignored them. He looked up at Kaiba and smiled. Kaiba smiled down at him while they walked back to the palace.
Back at the palace, Joseph was bathed and his clothes were changed. "That's better." Kaiba said examining him. "Come with me." He took the boy down a hall and walked into a room. "You can sleep here."
"This is for me?" He asked sitting down on the bed. Kaiba nodded his head. "Thanks." At that moment, his stomach growled prompting him to give a shy smile.
"You don't get to eat much, do you?" Joseph shook his head. "Come on, let's go find you something to eat." He put a hand on the boy's head tussling the mess of blonde hair.
Joseph sat at a table stuffing his mouth with bread and fruit. "So good." He smiled with a full mouth.
"Slow down. No one's going to take it from you." He had his arms crossed while he leaned back in his chair. Joseph ignored him eating as fast as he could until he had his fill. "For a kid, you sure can eat a lot." He smiled briefly before looking at some of the leftover bread. He tore off a piece and put it in his pocket. "You don't need to do that. We'll always have food here. Put it back." Joseph sighed putting the bread back on the table. Kaiba nodded to the guards who started to clear the table. "I'm going to take you back to your room." He stood up motioning for Joseph to follow. Kaiba took Joseph back to his room and sat him on the bed. "I need you to stay here. I'll be back later, I promise." Joseph nodded his head in understanding. Kaiba walked outside looking at the guards. "Make sure that no one goes in that room and make sure that he does not come out." The guards nodded their heads before he walked off.
Late at night, Kaiba sat at the desk in his room thinking. I can't remove his shadow creature from him without killing him. If I return him to the street, his creature may emerge and cause destruction, and his living conditions will only increase his hatred and fear making the creature stronger. If he's here, he'll be safe, and we'll be able to help him control the creature.
His thoughts were interrupted by one of the guards. "The pharaoh would like to see you."
"I'll be right there." He stood up and walked down the halls of the palace to the main chamber. He walked into the chamber and was shocked by what he saw. He saw Joseph sitting in the pharaoh's lap giggling while Mana stood nearby showing him magic tricks.
"Kaiba, so good of you to join us." Atem smiled. "I was just having a nice conversation with Joseph."
"How did you find him?" Kaiba's expression was a mix of anger and concern.
"Mana found him in the kitchen and brought him to me."
"Hey Kaiba." Joseph smiled.
"You were supposed to stay in your room."
"It got boring in there." He responded.
"Kaiba, why did you bring him here?" Atem asked.
"I would prefer to answer that without him in the room." The pharaoh looked to Mana who understood.
"Come on. Kaiba needs to talk to Pharaoh for a little bit." She smiled picking up the boy and carrying him away.
"Go on." Atem said crossing his arms.
"Shada and I were looking for the black dragon with red eyes…"
Atem interrupted Kaiba. "And that boy has the dragon?"
"Yes. I was hoping to capture the dragon, but it is bound to Joseph. I brought him here hoping to protect him as well as the villagers. I thought we might be able to help him control it."
"That's an interesting proposition." The pharaoh smiled a little at the thought. "Before we go there though, I was wondering if there are more children like Joseph."
"It is certainly a possibility." Kaiba responded. "After the fall of Zorc, more shadow creatures have been appearing."
"Then it's settled."
"What's settled?" Kaiba asked.
"You, Shada, and Mana will travel to the villages to find children like Joseph. Offer them sanctuary, clothing, and food here. I'll follow your wishes and keep them safe here. And if what you say is true, I'm sure there are others already looking for these children hoping to using them for malicious purposes."
"That is very kind of you Pharaoh."
"You should go prepare yourself now. Travel will be long. But before that, you should go spend some time with Joseph. I think that he is developing a bond with you."
"I won't let you down." Kaiba bowed before walking away.
Kaiba walked into Joseph's bedroom seeing him sitting next to Mana. "Kaiba!" He smiled running and jumping into his arms.
"Hey there. You certainly changed things a bit."
"What do you mean?" Mana asked curious.
"We have to go find more kids like Joseph here, kids with extraordinary gifts." He smiled a little setting the boy down. "I'll start preparing transport. Joseph, I want you to get some rest." He pointed to the bed. Reluctantly, he laid down in the bed. Mana tucked him in while Kaiba extinguished the lights. "Sleep well." He walked out of the room with Mana.
"So we're going to be finding kids?" Kaiba nodded his head walking off.
A week later…
Kaiba walked outside to see two wagons like he had ordered. One was covered while the other was stacked with supplies that were tied down. Mana's head peeked out from the covered wagon. "Almost done in here."
"What are you doing?" Kaiba walked over to the wagon and peered inside. "What's all of this?" He looked around the inside of the wagon seeing that the base had been covered. Blankets, small toys, and other objects were also scattered around.
"It's going to be a long trip." Shada said climbing to the front of the wagon.
"They're kids, Kaiba. They need to be entertained and comfortable. They're not prisoners."
"Wait up!" Joseph was running over to them holding something in his hands.
"Joseph, what are you doing here with the Millennium Ring?" Kaiba looked at him.
"Pharaoh said I could come, and he said to give this to Mana."
"Thank you Joesph." Mana smiled lifting him into the cart and taking the ring from him.
"Joseph, go back to the palace. This trip is going to be dangerous."
"No way. I'm coming with you." He climbed into the back of the cart. He sat there with a stubborn look on his face.
"Mana, keep an eye on him."
"Got it." She smiled sitting in the back of the cart with him.
"Let's get going." He looked at Shada who nodded his head ready to leave. He grabbed the reins while the carts started to move.