"Well…" Mokuba thought about it, before growling: "Some stupid stray dog he picked up on the street! He wanted to play with it instead of me!"

Noa sighed smiling. He stood, before hugging the younger boy tightly.

"I'm still mad at you, 'ya know!" Mokuba said, although he hugged Noa back.

Seto snorted, not believing Mokuba for a second. He nodded to the doctor and went into his room, the man following.

He laughed, before pulling away to look into his eyes. "Tell me why?"

The black haired boy pouted. "Because if Seto got mad at you then you wouldn't be able to play with me anyway."

"You're mad because I won't play with you?"

"Yes! You are always in your room or hanging out with Otogi!"

"I'm sorry, Moku-chan..."

The youngest brother sighed, looking down. "Oh well... I shouldn't expect you to play with me anymore... you're an adult, you're out of school, you'll soon start working with Nii-sama..."

He sighed, petting the younger boy's hair. "Moku-chan..."

"I just... I wish I had more friends. No one at school wants to play with me because they're afraid of my last name..."

Noa sighed again, kneeling to Mokuba's level. "I'll still play with you."

The boy looked up at him, eyes sparkling. "Really!?"

"Of course!"

"Arigato, Onii-san!"

He hugged him again. "Your welcome."

Seto stepped out of the room, glancing at Mokuba and Seto.

Noa stood, looking up at the older boy.

"I've made a decision," Seto announced as Mokuba stood up.

Noa blinked. "Yes?"

"I'm going to sell Otogi."

"What!?"

"Since with you around he can't seem to follow the rules, I'm going to get rid of him."

"No! Seto!"

The older brother sent Noa a glare. "You don't have a choice in the matter. He's my slave."

Upon thinking it over, the younger boy retorted. "Your slave?" He asked. "Is this why Mokuba and I don't get slaves!?"

"I'm the one that handles the money," Seto growled. "Once to get a steady job you can have your own slave. I run this house, there for I run the slaves."

He glared at him. "What do you mean he's not following rules?"

"He spoke to you. He know's he's not supposed to speak to anyone."

"Did that do any harm!!?"

"It doesn't matter if it did or not. The point is that he is my slave and that he broke my rules, there for he must either be punished, or I will get rid of him. Which would you prefer?"

He shut up, sighing.

"As soon as he gets well he's going." With that said, Seto headed off to his office.

Mokuba frowned as the doctor came out of the room.

Noa looked down at the younger Kaiba.

The younger looked over at the doctor. "How long until he gets well?"

"Well," the man said, looking at his notes. "He seems to be not eating enough. As long as he eats more, then he'll be fine. Make sure to tell your brother that." With that said the man left.

Mokuba looked at Noa. "As long as Otogi stays sick he stays, right? Well, then we won't tell Seto that Ryuuji needs to eat more, and he'll stay sick!"

Noa shook his head. "That's not good for him, Mokuba..."

"Well, neither will being sold again! At least this way he won't be beaten..."

Noa sighed. "But I don't want him to be sick..."

"Yeah..." Mokuba sighed as well, looking down. "What else can we do, thoug-" A thought suddenly popped in his head. "What if you go to the auction discussed and buy Otogi?"

He smiled. "That would work, but...what about money?"

"You have a savings that dad made when you were born, remember?"

"True..." He smiled.

The black haired boy blinked, looking into Seto's room. "Hey... where's Otogi?"

Noa's eyes widened. "Um...?"

"Wait..." Mokuba pointed to Seto's balcony where Ryuuji stood on the railing. "There he is! He looks like he's gonna jump!"

Noa's eyes widened as he ran into the room.

Mokuba followed. Together they pulled Ryuuji off the railing, making him fall backward on top of them both.

Noa blushed, blinking and trying to stand.

Ryuuji whimpered, curling into a ball on the ground.

"Why would you do that?" Mokuba asked, getting up. "Why would you want to jump?"

"I don't want to be sold again..." the slave whispered, his body shaking as he sobbed.

Noa immediately wrapped his arms around the boy carefully.

The black haired boy tensed lightly, before relaxing and burring his face into Noa's chest, sobbing loudly.

"Shhh..." Noa whispered, petting his hair.

"I don't want to go to another house..." Ryuuji whimpered. "Seto-sama may be mean, but he's NEVER hit me before... but the other houses... they do it just because they like to..."

He sighed, hugging Ryuuji closer.

"I wish I wasn't a slave..."

"I'm sorry..." Noa muttered.

"Its not your fault... I was born into slavery, so I never really had a choice..."

"I wish I could do something, though..."

"I wish you could too, Noa-sama..."

With a weak smile, Mokuba stood up. Even thought he was young, he knew when people wanted to be left with each other. Instead, he went and stood by the door to make sure Seto didn't come in.

Noa sighed, not knowing what to say.

"I'm sorry..." Ryuuji whispered. "That I broke the rules so many times..."

"No....no," He whispered. "They were stupid rules."

"Yes, but they were still rules..."

"Shhh..."

Pulling away, Ryuuji looked into Noa's eyes.

He smiled lightly.

Ryuuji smiled back weakly.

"It's my fault..."

"Why is it your fault?"

"I don't know..." He muttered.

"You are not the one that broke the rules, nor are you the one that made them, Noa-sama. None of this is your fault."

He shook his head, beginning to cry.

"Noa-sama... please don't cry."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

The slave smiled at him warmly, although his eyes were sad. "Maybe... maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe my new master will be just as nice as you."

He smiled sadly as well. "We don't know that, though..." He whispered, running his fingertips over the other boy's face.

"But we can hope. Its always good to hope. If I didn't have hope, I wouldn't have lasted this long."

He smiled weakly once more, voice soft. "Yeah."

"And hope brought me to you."

He blushed lightly.

A smile crossed Ryuuji's face, before Mokuba shouted: "Seto's coming!"

Noa immediately stood, rushing out of the room without a word to Ryuuji.

Mokuba did the same, and Ryuuji looked down as Seto entered.

"Why are you on the balcony?" The brunette asked.

"Gomen nasai, Seto-sama," Ryuuji whispered, eyes tearing up.

Noa sighed, wiping at his eyes and shaking his head.

"Get up," Seto ordered, and Ryuuji did so, closing the door behind himself as he walked over to Seto, who closed the door.

Mokuba cringed, before looking at Noa. "Noa... what if you and Ryuuji ran away?"

He looked up, surprised at the simple brilliance of such a small idea. Looking down at the younger boy, he immediately glomped him, crying, "I love you, Moku-chan!"

The smaller boy laughed lightly. "Onii-san! You're getting me wet!"

He chuckled, letting go of the boy, but still holding his shoulders. "Wait.." He began. "What about you?"'

"What about me?"

"I won't be here to play with you..." Noa murmured.

"Neh... In a year we wouldn't be able to anyway. I think I can handle growing up a year early."

He sighed lightly, ruffling Mokuba's hair and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

"I'm glad that you are happy, Onii-san."

He began to walk to his room, scooping the younger Kaiba up in his arms as he did so.

Mokuba blinked.

"I need you to help me think of a plan."

"Ah."

He looked at the other boy carefully. "What..? Did you think I was going to molest you?"

'Hey, a kid can hope...' "Nope."

He chuckled, shifting the boy in his arms and continuing.

"Hm... Tomorrow Nii-sama has a meting. You could do it then."

He kissed Mokuba's forehead. "Okay."

The black haired Kaiba giggled lightly at this. "And I'll claim I was asleep."

Noa reached his room, stepping inside and closing the door with his foot, before walking over and placing Mokuba on his bed. He took a seat next to him, sitting atop the bed as well, legs crossed.

Mokuba yawned, stretching out like a cat.

Noa chuckled lightly.

Curling up, the youngest Kaiba fell asleep.

He smiled, pulling his covers over the younger boy before getting up to change into his pajamas.

~*~

Noa yawned, rolling over in his sleep lightly.

"Get up!" Mokuba cried, tugging on the covers. "Come on, Onii-san! Get up so you and Ryuuji can get going!"

He sighed, rolling and trying to sit up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Nii-sama left nearly an hour ago. Otogi didn't come down for breakfast."

Noa stood up, throwing a sort of silken robe around himself.

The youngest Kaiba frowned at his brother. "You need to pack something and get some money. I'll go and see if Otogi is okay."

He nodded, doing as told.

Mokuba headed off to Seto's room, opening the door to find Ryuuji sitting on the bed, his head down.

Noa followed behind the younger after finishing.

"Otogi?" Mokuba asked, slowly walking over to the other boy, who looked up with a smile.

Noa followed, rushing up to the boy.

Ryuuji looked at Noa, smiling. "Good morning, Noa-sama."

"You need to pack," Mokuba said. "You and Onii-san are going to run away."

Noa nodded. "Hai."

Ryuuji blinked a bit in surprise. "Run...run away? To where?"

"I'm not sure..." The younger pondered. "Somewhere, though! Anywhere!"

"N-Noa-sama... I... I can't. Se-Seto-sama owns me... he paid for me... I can't just leave."

He sighed. "But.."

"Beside..." He lifted up his hair to show that the back of his neck had been branded as a Kaiba slave. "What if someone see's this?"

"My last name is Kaiba, as well..."

"But you don't own me... he does."

"Who is going to know that?" Noa asked. "We can skip country!" He cried, throwing his hands in the air and doing a little spin.

Ryuuji looked down. "I can't, Noa-sama..."

"Why!?" Mokuba asked. "Seto's going to sell you anyway! Wouldn't you rather be free?!"

Ryuuji's eyes began to tear up. "Well, yes... but..."

Noa stopped his happy twirling to look down at the other boy. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know how to not be a slave..."

"That's okay..." Noa smiled, leaning onto the bed. "I can teach you."

Green eyes lifted to meet Noa's own. "W-would you really?"

"Of course!" He said, tilting his head and smiling lightly.

Ryuuji smiled back, before nodding and standing up.

Noa grinned, hugging him lightly.

Mokuba laughed lightly, clapping.

He glanced over at the boy, blinking, still keeping his arms around Ryuuji.

"Come on!" Mokuba cheered. "Lets pack so you guys can get going!"

He chuckled. "I'm done with my packing, Moku-chan."

"I meant Otogi's stuff!"

"Of course."

Ryuuji looked down. "I don't own anything..."

"Shhh..." Noa smiled. "That's okay. When we get to wherever we're going we'll buy you stuff."

The slave looked at Noa, eyes wide. "N-no! I could never let you buy me something, Noa-sama..."

"You're not a slave anymore, Otogi," Mokuba pointed out. "You're aloud to own your own things."

He nodded. "Hai."

Ryuuji looked down silently, as if the idea made him feel sick.

Noa moved closer to him, looking up. "What's wrong?" He asked, brushing hair from Ryuuji's eyes gently.

"I've never really had anything of my own... its just.. the idea is weird..." He coughed a few times into his hand.

"You need food, Ryuuji."

"I'm fine, Noa-sama."

He shook his head. "No!" He tried. "You aren't! You need food!"

Ryuuji jumped. "Hai!"

Noa blinked lightly, placing a hand on Ryuuji's cheek.

Ryuuji closed his eyes tightly, as if expecting to be hurt after Noa had raised his voice.

Noa sighed lightly, before brushing his lips against Ryuuji's other cheek.

Noa sighed lightly, before brushing his lips against Ryuuji's other cheek.

Ryuuji's eyes widened, and he looked at Noa. In all foi his years of being a pleasure slave, he had never once, been kissed, even on the cheek.

He was blushing as he pulled away. "Come on, Ryuuji."

"Hai," the slave whispered, touching his cheek lightly.

Noa tugged on the boy's hand.

The black haired boy followed Noa silently.

Noa brought the boy into his room, before motioning for him to sit on his bed.

Ryuuji sat down, watching Noa curiously.

"I have to change into my clothes, you realize." He chuckled, before sliding the silken robe off of himself and throwing it into a suitcase.

Nodding, Ryuuji looked down once more.

Upon finishing searching his wardrobe and changing, the younger boy sighed, packing his pillows and moving around Ryuuji to do so.

The slave continued to stare into his lap silently, not moving even the slightest bit.

Noa stopped, peering over at him. "You can wander now, if you'd like."

"Hai." He still didn't move.

The younger sighed. "You can look other places, as well."

"Hai," he repeated, still not moving.

Noa smiled, taking a seat next to the older boy.

Finally looking up, Ryuuji smiled back at him.

Noa blushed, before leaning on Ryuuji carefully.

Still smiling, Ryuuji didn't move, just letting Noa lean on him.

"Where do you want to go?" He asked.

"Where ever you wish me to go, Noa-sama."

"Okay, I'm giving the choice to you."

He frowned, looking down. "I... don't think I can make that choice, Noa-sama..."

"Why's that?"

"I've never made a choice before... At least not one this big..."

He smiled lightly. "We can go anywhere. We can look at places as well, and decid if we want to live there."

Green eyes moved up to meet Noa's blue ones. "Together...?"

"Of course." He smiled.

A smile spread over Ryuuji's lips at this.

"Would you like to?" He asked.

"Do we have enough time to do so?"

"Enough time?"

"Seto-sama will be coming home soon..."

"Let us hurry, then!" Noa cried, standing up and holding both hands out for Ryuuji.

Ryuuji smiled, standing up.

Noa grabbed his bag, and nodded for Ryuuji to follow him as he ran out to the back garage.

The black haired boy waved to Mokuba as he passed, following Noa easily.

The younger boy shoved his things in the trunk of his car, before opening the passenger's side door for Ryuuji.

Ryuuji got in, buckling the seatbelt instantly.

Noa moved around to his side of the car, buckling himself in as well and starting the car up.

Ryuuji looked into his lap once more, seeming to find his hands very interesting.

Noa looked over at him whence they got on the road. "What's wrong?" He asked.

After coughing, the other said: "Nothing."

Noa instantly remembered that Ryuuji hadn't eaten. "You need food."

"Hai."

As he drove, he muttered. "Point out a place to eat. Okay?"

Ryuuji looked at Noa, frowning.

He tilted his head, before thinking it over. "Okay..uhm..."

The slave looked down, feeling as if he was a burden, since he could not do what Noa had asked him.

"Ryuuji...?" He whispered in question.

"Hai, Noa-sama?"

"It's okay, you know."

Eyes widening, Ryuuji looked over at Noa. He'd never heard anyone say that to him.

He stopped at a little restaurant, shutting off the car in the parking lot and undoing his seatbelt.

Ryuuji copied him carefully, before carefully brushing his hair over his neck, since the place refused to feed slaves.

He got out of the car, before making his way over to open the door for Ryuuji.

Ryuuji paused, slowly stepping in, as if doing so would be the end of the world.

Noa followed, as a waitress showed them to a seat.

She smiled, handing them two menus, before asking if they wanted anything to drink.

"A water would be good." He looked to Ryuuji.

Ryuuji nodded slowly, and, smiling, the waitress went off to get the water.

Noa smiled at Ryuuji, resting his chin on his hands.

Ryuuji smiled back weakly, feeling uncomfortable around so many people.

Noa looked around, noticing how tense the boy was.

Ryuuji couldn't help it: he looked at his lap, some hair falling into his eyes. It made him feel better, to not be looking in the faces of so many people.

He sighed lightly. "I'm sorry, Ryuuji..."

"For what, Noa-sam... Noa-san?"

"For dragging you here. You needed food, though."

"Its all right. I will have to get used to it eventually."

He smiled weakly.

Ryuuji still didn't look up, gripping his kimono...thingy...tightly.

"Forgive me?"

"Of course. Although I don't think there's anything to forgive."

He sighed lightly.

As the waitress came back with their water, Ryuuji forced himself to look up, to not cause suspicion. She smiled warmly and he smiled back, although weakly.

Noa took a small sip of his water, watching Ryuuji carefully.

The ex-slave stared at his water, not making any move to drink it.

"Ryuuji, you need refreshment."

Without question, the black haired boy took a sip of the water, still staring into it.

"You need to learn to do things on your own," Noa whispered.

"I'm sorry," Ryuuji whispered back sadly.

"I'm not angry with you."

Ryuuji looked up at him for a few moments, before looking back down, taking a slow sip of his water.

Noa watched the other boy with interest, resting his chin on the edge of the table.

The ex-slave looked at the menu, wondering what it said.

Noa looked over, getting out of his position before the thought struck him. "Matte...can you read?"

Ryuuji frowned, shaking his head.

He chuckled a bit at his own stupidity, before moving over to sit next to him and stare at the menu.

The black haired boy watched Noa curiously, blinking.

"I'll pick something for the both of us, and then I'll make note to teach you how to read. That sound good?"

"Hai, Noa-sam-- Noa-san."

Noa nodded, before proceeding to look down the menu once more.

Ryuuji stared at Noa, for lack of anything more interesting to do, aside from stare at his own lap, which would cause suspicion.

Pointing to something, Noa told him what it was, asking if he'd like it.

Ryuuji only nodded, having no idea since he had never tried much of anything.

Noa smiled lightly, before picking something out and waiting for the waitress, still sitting with the other boy.

Said waitress came up moments later, a pencil and pad in hand. "What can I get for you boys?" She asked, glancing over Ryuuji more then once.

Noa told the waitress their orders with a small smile.

She smiled back, nodding, before heading off.

Ryuuji smiled at him lightly, before slowly taking another sip of water.

The younger boy leaned over the table to grab for his own water.

Ryuuji looked away silently, forcing himself to not think of Noa in any way other then friendship.

Upon grabbing it, he pulled it over to himself while trying not to spill, taking a sip and leaning onto Ryuuji's shoulder.

The ex-slave blushed lightly, pulling back.

Noa blinked, looking up at him. "Nani?"

"Please... don't lean on me."

He sighed, feeling dejected. "Why's that?" He questioned innocently.

"I just... it... " He looked down. "If you really want to you can do it."

He shook his head. "I won't."

Still feeling guilty, Ryuuji closed his eyes.

Noa placed a hand on Ryuuji's cheek, turning him to face him. "Ryuuji...what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, Noa-san."

He removed his hand, fidgeting a bit in his seat but stopping the questioning.

Ryuuji coughed lightly into his hand, looking anywhere but Noa.

He sighed, before muttering, "Drink a sip of your water."

The ex-slave did so without question.

Noa smiled, brushing some strands of raven hair out of Ryuuji's eyes.

The black haired boy looked over at Noa, smiling.

He refrained from leaning on the boy, by leaning back instead.

Not long after the waitress came back with their food, asking if they needed anything else.

Noa shook his head in response.

She flashed them both a smile, before heading off again.

Ryuuji glanced at the food silently.

Noa looked up at him. "You must eat, you know."

The black haired boy nodded, but still didn't move.

"Ryuuji?"

"Hai, Noa-san?"

"I'm not going to force you to eat, but..."

"I'm only waiting for you to start, Noa-san. Its the way I was brought up."

He blinked, never thinking about it. "Oh.."

A smile crossed Ryuuji's face.

Noa blushed lightly at the gesture, before going to pick up his fork and start eating.

The ex-slave did the same, almost mirroring Noa's every move.

~*~

Ryuuji stared up at the hotel as they got out of the car, not quite surprised by its size, but mostly by how many people were going in and out.

Noa smiled over at him lightly.

Ryuuji smiled back, nervously shifting from foot to foot, trying to calm down.

A sad feeling washed over Noa when he had to stop himself from hugging the boy, or holding his hand. He sighed, looking away.

The ex-slave coughed once, still feeling a bit weak.

He looked over at him, a concerned look on his face.

Ryuuji tried to hide a yawn, but it broke through, and he covered his mouth, blushing.

Noa giggled, before reaching for Ryuuji's hand and stopping. He ran up the stairs to the hotel, waiting for Ryuuji.

Blinking, Ryuuji followed silently.

"Come on, let's get a room so you can get some rest."

"Hai, Noa-sama."

~*~

Ryuuji watched Noa silently as he stood near the door in their room. He hadn't moved from that spot since he had stepped in, feelings strange about being in such a nice place, and not having to share a bed with someone like Seto.

Noa turned around, walking up to Ryuuji with his hands held tightly behind his back.

Ryuuji smiled at him weakly.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Something wrong?"

"Iie, Noa-sama."

He refrained himself from touching again, twisting his hand with his other. "You're lying," He whispered.