"What the hell are you doing in here, Johnson? This room is off limits except when in use and NO One is allowed in the royal safe. How did you even get the combination?"
"Well me and the other advisors feel that its time for a new king. The millennium rod is the only object that can choose a new king. And the combination was quite simple. Knowing King Kaiba the combination would be his brother's birthday next Friday."
"I will tell you like I told your friend the rod will not chose a new king as long as the current king still lives! Now you and your friends are not to come near the rod again. It is much to powerful just for you and your friends to fool around with because you want rid of Seto."
"We are quite aware of the rods power and I believe we can handle it. We also plan to challenge his leadership."
"You have no right to challenge King Kaiba's rule. The laws of this land forbid you to challenge the current kings rule simply because you don't believe in his beliefs, idea and the way he runs the kingdom in general. Just because you don't believe he's doing a good enough job, isn't real proof of anything. If you had any real proof that, the king was failing to keep the peace or supporting the people of this land. If you had any real proof, you would have used it. You would have called forth the ancient spirits of the past kings and the millennium rod would have reflected their decision on whether or not Seto would be allowed to remain king. But as you know, this ritual can only be preformed once. The spirits of the dead get very testy when disturbed too many times without hard proof and evidence. And as you must also be aware the last advisors who tried this without proof well lets just say their fates are still unknown."
"I am well aware of that. But as we don't know the current where a bouts of the king I feel we must take action."
Yami was not happy he went over, took the rod, put it back in the safe and slammed the door. "I will find King Kaiba, be assured of that. In the mean time, if I catch you or any of the other members of the advisor staff in here or near the rod there will be hell to pay. Now get out of here before I change my mind and have locked up for stealing!"
The man wasn't happy but left. Yami searched the room to be sure no one else was around then made sure the door was shut before going back and changing the combination on the safe and closing the picture back over it. He then went in search of Bakura.
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He finally found him polishing his sword.
"Bakura I need your help."
"Certainly Master Yami."
"First thing in the morning I need you to lead a search party."
"Me sir, but I thought Honda was knight leader."
"He is but you know where you got the letter you gave me."
"The one my brother gave to me to give to you. Oh sir I hope it wasn't something bad, if it was I apologize."
"No nothing of that nature I assure you. It seems that King Kaiba was the one who sent the letter."
"Are you certain sir?"
"Yes, I'm positive. Its getting too late now to search so first thing in the morning I want you to form a small search party and talk to your brother and find the king and get him back here!"
"Yes, Master Yami, anything you say sir." 'Great what have gotten me into now Ryo!'
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A couple of hours later Mokuba woke up and was surprised. He couldn't remember the last time he's slept in a real bed. He got up and walked towards the door when he smiled hearing the two people he trusted most in this world talking. He walked in and sat down next to Seto.
Seto smiled and put his arms around him. "So did you have a nice nap?"
Mokuba nodded rubbing his eyes a little. Then Seto and Ryo laughed a little at hearing the kid's stomach rumble. Mokuba blushed but then Seto hiccupped and his stomach started to act up.
"Well it seems we're all a bit hungry. Mokuba would you like to help me make some sandwiches?"
Mokuba smiled and nodded. Yeah he always had to make supper for the family but this time he'd be doing it with Ryo. He hoped it might be fun. He actually found it was nice to help him. They talked and laughed a little while Ryo put the sandwiches together. His job was to get the stuff out of the refrigerator and put them on the table. Then he got the drinks out, the three of them sat down and ate and talked.
"Well it wasn't much and there's just enough left over for breakfast. I'm sorry it's not more but I was planning on leaving not long after you guys showed up. Plus the fact that I don't spend much time here, I only shop for what I need week-by-week. So there was no need buy anything more this week." Ryo said.
"No it was fine." Seto said.
"I-it was good." Mokuba told him.
"Well little one you're not going to like this but we should change your bandage. When Seto put it on it was probably still bleeding. It'd be better if we changed it."
"I hadn't thought about that. You're right, it probably would be better to change it."
'Great they're both against me.' Mokuba thought getting up but Ryo caught his arm.
"Oh no you don't, kiddo. Seto if you'll take him over to the couch I'll get the first aid kit."
"Sure, no problem." Seto said taking the struggling kid's arm. "Come on kiddo, it'll be okay."
'That's easy for him to say! He has no idea how much it hurts. I don't hate either of them for doing this, I just hate that they insist I do it.' Mokuba thought as Seto got him over to the couch.
"Now why don't you sit on my knee here and we'll let Ryo sit here beside us on the couch and he can fix you up, okay?"
Mokuba sighed. Then smiled remembering what he was allowed to call Seto now. "I-if you say so…big brother."
Seto was surprised. It was the first time Mokuba had called him that.
Mokuba thought Seto wasn't happy with it. "D-did you n-not want me t-to call you that?"
Seto hugged him tight. "No, no nothing like that kiddo. I'm sorry it's just going to take time for me to adjust. I'm always used to being the little brother not the big brother. No, I told you, you could call me that and I meant it. You just have to give me time to adjust a little, all right?"
"Whatever you big brother."
Seto smiled it was amazing how when he was truly calm he was able to talk with little to no stutter.
After Ryo returned, he saw the degree and severity of Mokuba's latest beating.
"Oh my this is horrible." Ryo said.
"Yeah now you can see why I chose to put him to sleep."
"Yes I do." 'Well Seto had said he'd been forcing the kid to take a sleeping pill simply cause there was not other choice. What if I gave another choice?' "Well why don't we let your back get some air and I'll make us some ice cream."
"W-what's that?"
Seto was shocked. "You don't know, what ice cream is?"
Mokuba shook his head no as Ryo grabbed the bottle of sleeping pills and went into the kitchen
"I heard Asana s-say o-once something about it but that Noah was a-alert-alert tick.
Seto laughed "I think you mean allergic."
"T-that's what I said."
Seto kissed the top of his head. 'Yeah its defiantly going to be fun having him around. It might even be fun to teach him things he doesn't know and help him learn to just be a kid, not a working slave.'
Ryo had crushed one sleeping pill into the ice cream. Since Seto had said he seemed to sleep soundly with just one Ryo felt it best to stick with that and not risk hurting the kid by giving him two. He then carried the bowl of ice cream and sleeping pills back into the living room and set the bowl in front of Mokuba.
"Here you are, eat up."
Mokuba wasn't so sure, he turned to Seto, "Y-you try it big brother."
Ryo held up the bottle and pointed to the ice cream telling Seto that he put the pill in it.
"No, thanks kiddo I want you to try it, trust me it's good."
Mokuba was still skeptical. Then Ryo returned with a bowl for him and Seto. Mokuba watched the two of them eat and talk. So, he figured if they liked it, it couldn't be all that bad. He did notice it had a slight tang to it about like that pill Seto forces him to take to treat him but it wasn't much so he ignored it. He finished it and loved it.
"Well did you like it?" Ryo asked.
Mokuba nodded yes.
"Good now climb up on Seto's lap and let's fix you up." Ryo told him.
Mokuba didn't like it but did as he was told. Seto lifted the boy up and set him on his knee. Then he started to hum and lightly rub the boy's arm and Mokuba couldn't understand why he was so sleepy all of a sudden. Soon Seto had him put to sleep. Ryo treated his back and wrapped him up good.
"Well it's late and we should get an early start tomorrow." Ryo told him.
"Yes, I suppose you're right." 'Yami is going to yell at me good when I get there too!'
"So what should we do with Mokuba? Should I let him sleep on my bed, I'll take the couch and you take my parents room? My brother's room no longer has a bed. My parents converted his room to a study after he left home."
"No reason you should give up your bed. He's been sleeping next to me sharing his so, he can sleep with me. If you don't mind?"
"No, no of course not. It might make him feel better with you near him."
So, they got Mokuba settled into his bed and they said their goodnights.
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Later that night a heavy rain and windstorm blew through the area. There was no thunder or lighting just strong winds and heavy rain. The windows started to rattle against the wind and rain. It woke Mokuba up. Well partly, it was more like sleep walking, his basic instincts kicked in. He knew he was supposed to lock up the barn and be sure all the animals were secure. He was also supposed to lock up the chicken coop. Which Ryo had one but no longer had any chickens in it, well Seto had forgotten to lock the barn door. Mokuba got up got his shoes on and went outside to do what he knew had to be done.
A few minutes later, the shutter on the window broke off waking Seto with a start. He frantically looked around the room and was shocked to see Mokuba wasn't there. He searched the house. Then he ran over to Ryo's room and woke him up.
"Ryo, Mokuba's gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"I mean he's no where in the house. I've looked."
They raced outside but saw no signs of the boy anywhere.
"Mokuba!" Seto called out.