The next day after the funeral Tristan and Ryo had both been requested to a personal audience with Princess Tea. Ryo now having no one to watch Mokuba and the boy now even more traumatized than before, took him with him.
"So I understand from Amelda that your sister was murdered and that you both feel it was due to her that this child lives." Princess Tea said.
"Yes, ma'am." Tristan said.
"I also understand that due to your bravely young Mr. Ryo's brother here is alive because of it. That had you not acted despite seeing your sister's condition you still chose to help this child."
"Yes, ma'am I-I figured that she was the real reason the child was alive. I assume that he used her love for children against her and forced her to do as he pleased or he'd kill the boy. When I first found the boy, I had no way to know my sister was dead. But after seeing her, I realized that it was my duty to protect this child as she tried to."
"That is the sign of a true knight, selfishly thinking of others wants and needs dead or alive. You put your own grief and possible anger that the child lived and your sister didn't aside and looked out for him. For that I am making you an honor guard of this castle. As you are aware the honor guard carries the royal flags when they are sent out with either me or as official representatives of the castle."
"Thank you very much princess! I greatly appreciate it." Tristan said. 'I know Nosaka would be proud of me."
"Amelda, I am very disappointed in you."
"Me? What did I do my lady?"
"Was Sir Tristan not allowed to leave when he told you that he was going to check on his sister and Ryo's brother?"
"Well yes, but…"
"But…it is my understanding that you at one time had a personal relationship with Sir Tristan's sister that may have clouded your judgment when it came to allowing Ryo to leave to check on them."
"My princess I don't believe my judgment was clouded." Amelda said sporting the black eye Ryo gave him.
"Well I have also heard reports that you have been making it twice as hard for these new recruits to make it. You are aware that once my father returns in 6 months, if they are forced to maintain this rigorous training most won't survive till he gets here or be able to tryout once he gets here. Then these young men wont get another chance at being guards till next year. My father only chooses new guards 4 times a year. This will be the last chance till next year. As such, I am reliving you of your assignment as training officer and reassigning Karim to that job."
"But your majesty he knows nothing of training." Amelda said.
"Well then I guess we'll just see how well he does won't we."
"Princess, Nosaka was the one who watched Mokuba for me so that I could train. I'm afraid I'll have to drop out as he's too traumatized to stay by himself at the moment." Ryo said.
"Of course I understand. Sir Tristan."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"As your first order of business you will take care of Ryo's brother for him, unless you have an objection."
"No, ma'am. I will honor my late sister by doing a better job at caring for this boy than I did before."
"Now if nothing further you may leave."
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The next week went by fast and soon it was time for tryouts.
Tristan true to his word stopped, well tried to stop drinking all together. He started cutting down on both the booze and the women. He really didn't have the heart to do much of anything anymore. But he did look after Mokuba the way he should have to start with. The day tryouts came Mokuba took Tristan to the same wall Ryo had put him on the first day they arrived. Mokuba had barely spoken at all since the incident.
Mokuba patted the wall.
"You want me to put you up there?" Tristan asked.
Mokuba nodded, Tristan wasn't sure why but agreed. After putting him up there, he turned around.
"Oh I get it you can see almost everything from here." Tristan said but when he turned around, he saw Mokuba looked sad.
"What's wrong?"
"T-this is where I first met Nosaka."
"I'm sorry I know how you feel I miss her too. I miss her raging on me all the time."
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Soon tryouts began and the winners were starting to be announced.
Prince Jounouchi came up to the final three. "Only two of you three will make it. Now let's see here. It was a very close race but Kosaku your scores were excellent. The next space goes to Ryo."
"What! Why him?" Kayiki demanded to know.
"His scores were slightly better than yours."
"So what if not for him I'd have finally made it!"
"Well when you put it that way, yes." Prince Jounouchi said.
Kayiki was furious that he was passed over again! So he decided now was the time to use the information he'd learn and turn it to his advantage. "Yeah, well I heard that he's been buying bandages to bandage that kid brother of his up. In fact, he had a package of salve delivered. Obviously, he beats that kid and covers it up."
"That's impossible salve is only available to doctors at castles."
"Yeah, well maybe the person sending it to him is the same person who helped him kidnap that kid!" Kayiki said.
"What are talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that that brat's not only not his brother but belongs to another king and he kidnapped him!"
"Ryo is this true?"
"No, I love him, I'd never beat him! He's my brother, you can ask him yourself."
"I'm sure by now the kids so brainwashed he'd say anything." Kayiki said. "Check his room if you find salve there that will prove at least part of it."
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Ten minutes later, a man returned with the salve from Ryo and Mokuba's room.
"This doesn't look good Ryo." Prince Jounouchi said.
"I'm telling you, I didn't kidnap him!"
"Then how do you explain a knight from Draglor being here?" Kosaku asked. "I saw him talking to you."
"If I had kidnapped the kid don't you think he would have arrested me rather than giving me the package!" Ryo asked.
"Perhaps he's the one who helped you kidnap him." Kayiki said.
"I am sorry, Ryo but this doesn't look good. I'm afraid that I am given no choice but to give Kayiki the last spot till we can sort this all out." Prince Jounouchi said.
Ryo sighed and nodded. He took the salve and put it in his pocket.
Then walked over to where Tristan and Mokuba were.
"That's not true is it Ryo? I mean Mokuba is your brother. Isn't he?"
"Of course he's my b-big brother!" Mokuba said defending Ryo.
Ryo smiled and kissed the boy's head as a thank you for defending him. Then he picked him up. "Thank you for taking care of him Tristan. It was very nice knowing you and your sister." Ryo said turning and walking away.
Tristan grabbed his arm. "So what you're just going to leave, just like that!"
"What can I do, Tristan. I can't prove to them that Mokuba is my brother. I can't prove to them their allegations are false." 'However one phone call to Draglor and I have a feeling someone there would be able to prove their theory.' Ryo thought.
"Wait you said you can't prove it, does this mean that they can?"
"Let it be Tristan." Ryo said walking back to their apartment.
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Once there, Ryo set Mokuba on the bed. "Okay kid get your things together we're leaving."
"W-why?"
Ryo sighed and sat down on the bed next to him and hugged him tight. "We can't stay here, kiddo. They already suspect that I took you away from Seto and Yami. Right now all they have is theory no proof but if they call their castle someone there may tell them."
"B-but you didn't t-take me. I wanted to come with you big brother!"
Ryo smiled. "Thank you. But it's time to go back."
"What?" Mokuba asked as if he didn't hear him right.
"We're going back to Draglor. I'm sorry but I need to figure things out and I can't do that here. So, get your clothes and things ready to go. Also don't forget Anzu, I don't want you to forget anything, I know she's important to you and you wouldn't want her to be all alone here without you would you?"
Mokuba smiled and shook his head no.
That night they snuck out of the castle to avoid being seen. Ryo gave Mokuba his jacket since it was now a lot colder at night. It was always warm in the daytime so he never thought to get the boy one and then when it started getting colder he didn't have the time. He put his rain jacket on. It was the only thing he had that would keep him warm. Plus he'd overheard some travelers lately say it'd been raining a lot off and on all month long there. This way he'd be prepared incase it is raining.
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The next night Seto was in the upstairs family room reading when he started nodding off to sleep. Suddenly he hears a voice calling for him.
"Seto! Seto!"
Seto ran to the window. "Mokuba." Then he runs out there to him.
"Seto!" Mokuba yelled and the boy starts running towards him.
"Mokuba." Seto sighed.
Then a shot rang out. Seto looked around to see where the shot came from when he suddenly noticed Mokuba lying on the ground he had been shot!
"No, No, Mokuba!" Seto yelled running towards the boy. Then when he reaches him he picks him up into his arms and cradles him, crying. "Mokuba, Mokuba speak to me, please!"
The boy looks up weakly and touches Seto's cheek with his hand. "B-big brother, I l-love you." then his hand drops and he passes away.
Seto desperately searches for a pulse. "No, no, Mokuba you, you can't die, you can't leave me like this little brother please don't leave me! Mokuba!"