"So, are you saying that Gozaburo was my father?"
"Can I swear that you're not my son no all I can say is that it's a strong possibility."
"That would explain it." Seto said.
"Earlier you said that I lied when I told you that my mother disappeared, why?"
"We fought over whether or not you were truly mine, but more over her affair. I told her we couldn't be together unless she stopped the affair. She told me that she wouldn't, he was paying her rent so that we could not only continue to live in that house but make all the upgrades we'd been planning. Add-ons so that in the future when we had kids there'd be room for them. The house was originally had only one bedroom. She said he was also was going to promote her. She said that the money I made wasn't going to be enough to support our children. Not to mention that I rarely sent the money I made home. I couldn't blame your mother for doing what I myself did on more than one occasion. Just after you were born, she announced she got the promotion to be the queen's second lady-in-waiting. But since she was, only second she took orders from the first lady-in-waiting. We decided to break up and divorce. I moved here when you were 2. Your mother was very devoted to you. I don't care what anyone tells you, your mother would never abandon you! She loved you heart and soul. She'd fight tooth and nail against anyone who'd bother you. I just can't believe she'd up and leave you."
"All I know is she gave me a bracelet, hugged me and said goodbye. That's all I really remember. I never forgot it."
"I see that bracelet must have been the one her great-grandfather gave to her. It was her prized possession. She often told me she was going to give it to you someday when you were old enough to hear the story of how he got it."
"But then why did she give it to me then and why did she leave if she felt that way?" Yami asked.
"Perhaps it was true and you were his son."
"But I still don't understand what difference that makes." Yami said.
"Perhaps he either sent your mother away or…"
"Or had her killed." Seto finished. "I knew my father was a cold hearted bastard but I never thought he was capable of murder."
"You think Gozaburo had my mother killed?" Yami asked.
"I can only tell you that she loved you that's all."
"Why would he have her killed?" Yami asked.
"I wish I could answer that. But I don't know the answer."
"I see can you tell me the story of the bracelet then?"
"Certainly." Ross said and began to relay the story of the bracelet.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Meanwhile outside Mokuba was playing when an old enemy of Ryo's showed up.
"Hey, your Ryo's kid, aren't you?"
Mokuba looked up and saw Amelda the guard that tried to prevent Ryo from getting to him.
Varon stepped up. "Can I help you?"
"No, I'm just looking for that brat's brother. We have a score to settle."
"What did he do?"
"He gave me a black eye and an official reprimand from the princess!"
"R-Ryo's n-not here." Mokuba said hiding behind Varon.
"Well lucky for him then isn't it."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
About an hour later, Yami and Seto said their goodbyes and walked outside.
"Mokuba come on." Seto called.
Varon set Mokuba down from the wall he had placed him on. Mokuba then ran over to Seto.
Ross walked out with a box. "This was your mother's. It was her grandmothers. Your grandfather gave that ring to her the day he proposed. Your grandmother was devastated when he died. She gave that ring to your mother before she died."
"Wow its beautiful." Yami said.
"It's a pure diamond. Your grandfather went and dug for the diamond himself."
Seto with Mokuba hanging off his arm walked over. "Wow that's a big diamond."
Yami was showing it to him, Mokuba was trying to see when Ross noticed him.
"Well hello there." Ross said bending down next to Mokuba.
Mokuba however only moved behind Seto still clutching his arm.
Yami sighed, "You'll have to excuse him. He's extremely shy around strangers."
Seto squeezed the boy's hand. "It's all right Mokuba, it's okay. He wont hurt you."
Ross only smiled, "It's all right." He said as he stood up. "He's a cute kid." Then he looked at Seto. "Is he yours?"
"He's our little brother." Seto said.
"You mean the queen had two children?"
Yami sighed. "Yes, but sadly she didn't survive long enough to meet him."
'What does that mean?' Mokuba wondered.
"I see, a shame. Well I can see the two of you have taken very good care of him."
Seto and Yami just smiled. No reason to go over their history.
"Well I best let you be on your way. Take care of yourselves. Goodbye little one." Ross said going back into the house.
Mokuba felt a little bad not saying anything, but after everything that has happened to him, it made him very easily spooked by strangers.
"Well I guess we should head out. Are you ready kiddo?"
Mokuba had been thinking ever since Yami said they were coming here and Ryo said he should face up to what happened. He thought long and hard about it and decided that he would try. At least he knew Seto and Yami would be with him so he'd be safe. Plus Varon and Alister were a bonus. "Yeah, I'm r-ready big brother. Seto?"
"What's up kid?"
"C-can we go visit Nosaka's grave?"
"Do you want to?"
Mokuba nodded tears threatening to fall.
"We don't have to." Seto said.
"N-no I w-want to."
"Then why don't we buy some flowers?"
"Can we?"
"Sure." Seto said. "Yami, Mokuba wants to visit his friends grave. You want to stay here or go with us?"
"There's nothing more for me here." Yami said taking Mokuba's hand. "Let's go."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
They arrived at the flower shop and started looking over everything.
"I'm Keith the owner and operator, may I help you find something?"
"Yes, a friend of Mokuba's here…" Seto started putting his hand on Mokuba's head, "died recently and we were looking for some nice flowers he could put on the grave."
The man looked at Mokuba and recognized him. "You're the little boy who Sir Tristan saved. The one who Nosaka was looking after."
Mokuba nodded.
"How do you know that?" Yami asked.
"Are you kidding it was all over town. It was even rumored that the man was hired by the kid's brother to do away with them both. Especially after they disappeared into the night after he was accused of beating the kid."
Seto was angry. "Ryo never beat him! I took them both in away from the hostile environment that got the kid beaten. We neglected them, they left and came here." Seto said.
"Ryo nearly give his life to protect Mokuba! He's currently hospitalized due to another hired killer. So if Ryo had wanted Mokuba to die, why would he defend him?" Yami asked.
"I…I'm sorry I was only going by rumors."
"Well now you can put a stop to the rumors with the facts!" Seto said.
"Yes, yes of course." Keith said turning around and handing a plant to Mokuba. "It's a pink rose bush. They were Nosaka's favorites. Why not plant it next to her grave."
Mokuba looked at Seto. "C-can I?"
"What do you think?" Seto asked Yami.
"I don't see the harm a little usual but I say let the kid do it."
"What do we owe you?"
"Nothing, Nosaka was well loved around here. It was a tragedy what happened."
Seto didn't argue and they left.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
After Mokuba had gotten the bush planted, they heard a voice call out.
"What do you think you're doing there?"
Mokuba looked up and was surprised to see Tristan.
"Sorry we didn't know it was illegal to plant a flower." Seto said.
"No, it's not, I…I just I didn't realize that's what you were doing." Tristan said. As he placed the flowers on the grave, he looked up and saw Mokuba. "M-Mokuba?" he asked confused.
Mokuba nodded and leaned back against Yami who placed his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"I don't understand. What are you doing here? Who are these people? Where's Ryo?"
Mokuba sighed and put his hands on Yami's.
"And you are?" Seto asked.
"I happen to be a friend of that kid and his brother and I demand to know what you are doing here with Mokuba!"
"I guess Ryo took what I said that time and used it when he came here with Mokuba."
"What are talking about Seto?" Yami asked moving his hands to Mokuba's chest.
"When I first met Ryo, I commented that Mokuba was his brother. When he told me no, I told him that I thought so since his hair style is similar to Mokuba's."
"That does make sense." Yami said.
"This is T-Tristan. Nosaka's brother." Mokuba said.
"Oh, I'm sorry about your sister she was brave." Yami said.
"Yes, she was, so Ryo really did kidnap Mokuba like they say." Tristan said. "I thought he was telling the truth I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe he loved that kid."
Seto was trying to keep his anger in check when he said. "First lets get the record straight. So, that you can help put a stop to vicious rumors, we've heard are going around! Mokuba was adopted years ago by another family they were the ones that beat him! Ryo was his neighbor and only friend. Someone who looked after him and basically the only person to truly give a damn about him! He took care of him the best way he knew how. He couldn't take him away without getting into trouble and no way to support the kid. Then I came along and took them both away from there and we all started a new life. Yami and I well we screwed up. We neglected them, they left and came here to start a life together." Seto said.
"Seto's right. Ryo is currently in the infirmary because the man that tried to kill Mokuba here had a brother that tried to kill him at our place. If that's not love and devotion, I don't know what is. Mokuba has us and he has Ryo. We are all his brothers. I don't care what people say, Ryo is as much Mokuba's brother as we are." Yami said.
"I see I understand now. I'm glad to see that Mokuba has a nice family."
The four of them then went back to what was left of Nosaka's house. And both Mokuba and Tristan told what they could of that night. It was hard and painful but it seemed to help do them both some good and helped Yami and Seto to understand how to help Mokuba a little better.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Soon they were saying their goodbyes and on their way to the mountain. Yami's father had given them maybes and possibles. Nothing concrete. The only way to know for certain was to know if the rod was responding to emotion or if it was really, trying to tell them that Gozaburo was Yami's father.
Seto had figured out a possible reason why Yami's mother may have been killed. He was afraid to tell Yami. Afraid it'd only hurt him more. He also wondered what would become of their relationship and who rightfully had the throne if it turned out to be true!