Mokuba woke up the next morning his back still stung a little from Ryo's treatment, it always did.
'Mmm…I don't remember falling asleep last night and defiantly not on this man's shoulder. But I still can't believe how much more safe and secure in his arms I feel than I do just near him. I want to stay and snuggle up that much more. He obviously doesn't mind the way he's holding me. It feels so weird to have someone hold me and be able to make me feel this safe and secure. I mean Ryo does and I do feel safe with him. But this is different; different from anything I can ever remember feeling before. Well I guess I'd better get up. The family will be home soon.' Mokuba thought sitting down on his legs, watching Seto sleep. He gently moved Seto's hand from around his waist to Seto's chest and pulled the blanket around him.
'It's still weird how this strangers soft soothing words were able to calm me so completely. All the times Ryo's ever tried it never seems to work. So why now, why him, what's so special about him? I always feel bad I mean I know Ryo is upset that he hurts me like that. I know he's only helping I don't want him to feel bad but for some reason nothing he can say ever seems to calm me. It still confuses me like mad as to why, what makes this man so different? I have been around people before when my parents throw dinner parties. Thankfully, they always get it catered so I only have to help serve. But no one I have even been near has ever made me feel this way. I wish I could put that arm back around me. Then just layback down and snuggle in. But I know I can't, if I do, I'll just end up going back to sleep and my luck the family will chose that moment to come home.'
So reluctantly, he got up and went upstairs to start breakfast. His stepmother and sisters were ALWAYS hungry. So even if they ate in town odds are they would be mad if breakfast wasn't on the table. Mokuba only knew how to make scrambled eggs. When his stepmother was in a good mood, she'd help him make bacon and gravy too. He tried and well gravy was a little harder to master and he burned himself from the oil sparks the bacon makes more than once and always ended up burning them. This time Mokuba decided he'd at least try. He'd tried before and always ended up failing to get it right. But he wanted to get it right. He wanted to give the man downstairs a nice meal. If he did it right and his family was pleased he could do that. So without the family there harping on him to hurry and finish like all the times before when he chose to experiment cause they were in an extra bad mood the night before and he hoped the extra meal would please them. He was actually proud of himself; it actually looked good for a change.
He'd have snuck downstairs and got the picnic basket and filled it with enough food for them both but he'd tried that before. Not with the basket but sneaking food in a basket, he'd found once. He was in a hurry then and set the basket of food just inside the door that led to the room above the basement. It was originally part of the kitchen but from what he'd been able to find out the basement was made as a tornado shelter. However, when Marine and Asana were young they got spooked and the wife no longer wanted to go down there. So, his father built the small room above the basement. He learned all of this from Asana. Unlike Marine and Noah, she didn't blame him for their father's death. She wasn't exactly the best of friends with him but at least she wasn't the enemy. She's at least a little nice to him at times.
If he didn't know any, better he'd swear his stepmother and sisters were bloodhounds! It didn't matter where Mokuba tried to hide cooked food for himself they always ended up finding it, eating it and punishing him for hiding and sneaking it.
'Oh well maybe they'll be happy and at the least the allow me to fix something to eat. I mean I'm sure the man's hungry being in a coma as Ryo called for 2 days. I can wait I mean Ryo always knows to bring something. I'm sure he'll have something when it comes time for our meeting.'
Just as he predicted the family came home not long after he'd finished setting the table.
"Well, well, well. Mother it looks like the boy's decided to make up for yesterday." Asana said.
"I am glad now that I chose to come home with you. It's so boring with my husband Jacob off looking for work. I just hope it makes it home safely and not get killed like father did then." Marine said.
'Great, if they bring all of this up again I may never get to feed the man. I wish Ryo had told me his name. If he said it last night, I never heard it. I mean first the beating and second Ryo's treating me. I'm surprised I remember anything from last night.'
"Now Marine now's not the time to be bringing up old wounds." Her mother said.
"Yes let's not and just eat!" Noah said.
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After they finished Mokuba held his breath waiting and hoping. Even bloodhounds have their off days especially when Mokuba hid the extra bacon he made for the man in the skillet. This way he hoped to throw them off the sent. They were either too full to care or didn't notice it cause no one said anything.
"Well boy you did a good job, you may fix something of your own to eat. Come lets get our things and go to the sitting room, that includes you Noah." The mother said.
"Why do I have to go?" Noah questioned.
"Well we need someone to be our model." Asana said.
"No! No way I refuse let that kid do it! That's what he's around here for!"
"Sorry to disappoint you dear little brother, but he's way to small to be an effective model for us to hem our new outfits." Marine told him.
"And you're just the right size." Asana said.
Noah groaned as he was being pushed out the door. After he was sure they were out of earshot Mokuba gave a faint giggle.
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While they were gone, Mokuba quickly pulled the extra bacon he'd hid in the skillet out then quickly made some eggs. He didn't want them to know he made extra bacon so he made the eggs fast. Then he grabbed a tray he'd hid outside the door. The got a coffee cup he'd found on the top shelf and filled it with coffee. He knew it said something on the cup but no idea what. He then got himself a glass of milk put it all on the tray and then quickly made his way downstairs with a tray.
Seto woke a little after Mokuba left. "What oh right, I'm in that kid's basement. Speaking of which where is he, anyway?"
Seto got his answer as Mokuba appeared in the doorway with a tray of food. He walked over and set the tray down in his lap. Seto was surprised. "Did-did you make this?" Mokuba nodded. "Coffee too. Thank you." The smile on his face was all the reward Seto could ask for. He'd work on getting him to talk to him later.
Mokuba was happy that he liked it. He wished he could have made enough that he didn't have to wait for Ryo, but lately Noah's been counting how many eggs are in the basket at the end of the day to know how many there should be the next just make sure Mokuba didn't sneak any.
After he'd finished Seto thought, it was strange that he heard the kid's tummy rumble. 'Didn't he eat anything yet?' Mokuba picked up the dishes and started to leave when Seto remembered something. "Oh I almost forgot Ryo said he had a test and couldn't meet today."
'Great now I'll have to work extra hard today just to be able to steal a piece of bread. Depending on what they want for lunch.'
"Will you come back after you put those up?"
Mokuba sighed and shook his head no. 'No, if I have any chance of getting you lunch I have to really work at it and it could take all day.'
"Oh well maybe later then, I want to talk to you about something."
Mokuba nodded. 'Talk to me about what?' He wondered going back upstairs and started work.
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He worked to clean up better than usual and just as he hoped he got lunch. Since the family was preoccupied with their dress and things Mokuba made a lot of sandwiches and made 4 extras. This was one of the rare times he'd get away with making extras. He debated on what to do for drinks and knew Noah hated sodas and their sister Asana was obsessed so there'd be no way for Noah to keep count since she could drink from 1 to 4 to 0 depending on the day and her mood. So, he could get by with snitching a couple. After giving the food and drink to the family and being dismissed he quickly grabbed his tray and made his way down to the basement. He walked over and saw Seto was sleeping. He gently walked over and lightly shook him.
"Mokuba…" Seto mumbled in his sleep.
'Mokuba? I like that name. I wonder who it is?' He shrugged it off and set the tray down. Then he started to gently shake him again.
Seto jumped a little startled then as he sat up, he smile and without thinking said, "Oh, Mokuba it's only you."
The boy looked at him confused. 'Why did he call me that?'
Seto caught the odd look the boy was giving him and it finally hit him what he'd said. "Oh sorry kiddo. Well you see that's what I wanted to discuss with you. Will you sit here next to me?" Seto asked patting the space next to him, hoping he would.
Mokuba didn't know why but he liked sitting next to him anyway so he crawled over to him and settled in. Seto was happy that he did and placed his arms around the boy.
"Well Ryo and I were talking and he told me that you hate your name."
Mokuba didn't say anything just nodded his head.
"Well Ryo said that if it was okay with you I could give you a name. Would you like that? I mean it'd be nice if I had a name I could call you other than just kid. I'm sure Ryo would like that too."
Mokuba looked up into his deep blue eyes wondering why, he wouldn't be here that long. But he was right about Ryo.
"Will you let me?" When he didn't get an answer, he squeezed the kid tight. He so badly wanted to tell him to promise him that he planned to take him with him. But his fear was if he told him, he might not agree right away afraid since he hadn't earned enough trust to get the kid to talk to him. Also, if he did agree what if something went wrong and he was forced to leave early without being able to get him, the poor thing would be crushed. "Please tell me."
Mokuba debated on what to do. He decided to try to get out of answering by getting the sandwiches. But Seto wasn't going to allow it not till the kid gave him an answer.
Still he got nothing he wasn't sure why. Mokuba wanted to answer but wasn't sure I mean sure a new name would be nice, but what good would it do him?
Seto decided to tell him anyway then let him decide. "I want to call you Mokuba. I once lost someone very precious to me and I always wanted to call him Mokuba, but I never got the chance. Will you let me call you that?"
'Well I do like that name.'
Seto lifted him up, set him on his lap and lifted his chin. "Please talk to me."
Mokuba lowered his head and said, "Yes."
It was so soft Seto could barely make it out. But it was a start it was one word he couldn't hear it but it was a break though. "I didn't hear you, please say it again."
Mokuba looked up and saw hope in the man eyes. So, he decided to say it again a little louder. "I-I s…said y-yes."
"Good, then that's what I'll call you, Mokuba."
"B-but I-I d-don't e-even k-k-know y-your name."
"It's Seto. Now how about lunch, huh?"
Mokuba nodded and grabbed the tray and they started eating.
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After they finished, Mokuba went back upstairs to start working to earn supper that night.
"I wonder how Yami will feel about…Yami! How could I have forgotten? I've obviously been here more than one day the way Ryo talked about fearing I wouldn't wake up. Yami must be going out of his mind with worry right now. Maybe if I sent him a message. But the question is how, how do I get it to him. Ryo would panic if he knew who I was, he'd want to take me back there or tell Yami and knowing Yami, he'd bring out the whole army to bring me back if necessary. I don't think it'd make a difference to Mokuba even if I told him. I guess the best way to do it is to give it to Ryo and have him give it to his brother and have him give it to Yami. I'll tell Ryo that Yami would know who to give the letter to. It's not that I don't want to go home its just right now I'm not sure I could stand up much less ride a horse all the way home. I've tried to get up to walk around but I think I twisted my knee it hurts like crazy when I try to stand not to mention my head starts pounding again. Besides, I really want to take that kid home and I need to gain a little more trust out of him before I even dare ask if he will or not. I know it'll have to be soon if I know my advisors if they get wind that I'm missing they'll strip me of my kingdom or at least try to."