Hope

Chapter Three

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"Daddy, it hurts!" Ryou whimpered.

"I know," Mr. Bakura said. He was holding a bottle of cream.

He sat down next to Ryou, but instead of staying still and letting his father strip and put the cold, painful cream all over him, he jumped off the bed.

But, before Ryou could run off, Mr. Bakura grabbed his son's wrist and calmly pulled on the bed. He took off Ryou's pajama shirt and pants.

"Are you going to be still like a good boy?" He asked.

Guilt overcame Ryou. He knew better then to run off from his Daddy. He nodded while blinking rapidly; he wasn't going to cry.

"Lay down," Mr. Bakura said.

Ryou obeyed.

Mr. Bakura squeezed some of the cream on his left hand. He carefully dipped his fingers in the cream and brought his hand down on his son's face. He spread the cream in circular motion, ignoring his son's winces.

After rubbing the cream all over Ryou's body, Mr. Bakura gave Ryou a pair of pants and a shirt. Ryou put them on.

"You were very naughty," Mr. Bakura said.

Ryou looked down.

Mr. Bakura picked his son up and set him down near a corner. "Put your nose in the corner and think about what you did. Do not move until I get back."

Ryou obeyed and his Daddy walked out of the room.

~~~

"Ryou, Ryou, wake up," Quatre said softly. "It's time for dinner."

Ryou opened his eyes, the dream still fresh in his mind. Maybe if he hadn't run off he wouldn't have been sold. He wished he could go back in time and never disobey his Daddy. Then he could stay with him forever.

Jon and the woman who brought Kurama the towel after his bath walked in. They were both carrying two trays of food. They silently gave everyone but Duo a plate of food and a glass of water.

Duo wasn't surprised that he received nothing to eat, he got in trouble more then anyone and knew pretty much to expect punishment wise.

Jon and the woman left and the kids settled down to eat. They had been given baked chicken, boiled potatoes and green beans.

"Do you want it?" Ryou asked Duo. He wasn't hungry, he felt too horrible to eat.

"Yeah," Duo said, "but I'm not allowed to eat and they have cameras in here, I'd rather not see you in trouble on your first day."

"You really should eat," Quatre said.

"The food's not half-bad," Mokuba said, taking a bit of his food. "I'm Mokuba."

"Ryou," Ryou said, taking eating a green bean. Mokuba had been right, it was good.

Quatre then realized that Ryou didn't know everyone. He pointed out all the kids and told them their names.

"I really miss chocolate," Kari said. She and Ken had just gotten back from their time with a customer.

"Don't even say that word," Duo said, "I've only had it once and it was the best thing I've ever eaten."

"What's chocolate?" Ryou asked.

"You are a deprived child," Duo said. "You've been free and you've never had chocolate?"

"Were you even allowed to have junk food?" Kurama asked.

"What is junk food?" Ryou asked. "Is it some sort of trash?"

Everyone stared at him. Ryou lowered his eyes, "I'm sorry."

"No, don't feel bad," Sakura said. "Your father must have really sheltered you."

"Probably thought he would get a," Wufei started but stopped when he saw Quatre slowly shake his head.

~~~

"What do you mean I have a brother?" Seto Kaiba asked. His adopted father had just died and he was next in line to run Kaiba Cooperation, a buisness that built and sold tools of war.

"Your father didn't want you to waste your time trying to find your brother. You guys were sent to separate orphanages when your mother died giving birth to him." Johnson said, he was one of the 'big five' the top advisers to Kaiba Corp.

"What is his name?" Seto said.

"It is of no importance," Johnson said.

"Tell me his name," Seto said. "Or I'll fire you."

"His mother named him Mokuba."

Seto smirked, "you're fired."

"What do you mean? I told you his name!"

"I'm taking this company into a new direction and you'll just hold me back. Clear out your desk before I call security."