Mokuba turned around and when he saw Seto, he walked over to him afraid he was in trouble.
"What's going on here Mokuba?"
"I r-ran into Asana. She hid m-me from Noah."
Seto's glare made Asana uncomfortable.
"Why would you do that? I'd think you'd beg to have your little slave here back."
Asana sighed. "I never approved of the beatings. I knew and sometimes felt he needed to be punished like when he dropped all of our plates just for fun and…"
"I d-didn't." Mokuba protested. "N-Noah s-scared me. H-he t-told me I was b-bad and w-wanted me to go to him. I d-didn't want to go near him. I backed into t-them it was an accident."
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know."
"Did you ever once think to ask Mokuba what really happened or did you just assume that's what happened."
"Well Noah said that's what happened. I hated that they made me use the big whip, even on the whipping tree we rarely use it."
Seto's eyes went wide. "THAT'S why he was tied to that tree! He broke your precious plates!" Seto asked outraged to learn the full reason why he had been tied up. Mokuba had said something like that when he and Ryo demanded an answer at the time. But he realized now he omitted a few things.
Asana ducked her head and said, "I wanted to free him when that lady gave you back. But mother was always next to me so I couldn't without her knowing. Then Noah got there before I did. I still don't know how you got away I'm just glad you did. Well I better go before Noah gets back. Goodbye JJ."
"B-bye Asana."
"You can remember his old name but not his new one?" Seto asked.
Asana looked at Mokuba. "It's better this way. That way I won't slip up if I'm ever asked a question about him." Asana said leaving.
Mokuba looked at Seto. "S-Seto what's a Christmas present?"
"Oh well did you ever have a tree decorated with gifts under it?"
Mokuba thought then nodded.
"Well what did they do with these gifts?" Seto asked.
"D-don't know. I w-was locked downstairs."
"I see."
Seto took Mokuba to a chair, pulled him into his lap and only explained about presents. He'd save the Santa Claus discussion for later and at home.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
At the same, Pandora had plans of his own.
"Hopkins." Pandora called.
"Yes Master?"
"These storms are already putting people on the edge. It won't be long before they will be so stressed out that my attack will leave them stunned. They wont know which ends up."
"What of the child you want Master?"
"Look at this." Pandora said showing him a picture of the big three.
"Who are they Master?"
"These people are you ticket to getting me that child."
"So, what do I do Master, brainwash them control their minds?"
"No, nothing like that. They will be more than eager to cooperate once you tell them you are planning to rid them of both the child and their king."
"You're certain Master."
"Positive, now go." Pandora said as Hopkins quickly left. "Soon, very soon it will be time to strike."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Seto had just finished his explaining.
"So does that answer your question?"
Mokuba smiled and nodded.
Seto stood up. "Varon."
Varon quickly moved over to Seto. "Yes, my king."
Seto stroked Mokuba's hair. "Would you take him Christmas shopping; Christmas is a little over a month away. But the colder it gets the less likely either of us will want to come back out."
"Of course my king."
Seto looked down. "Would you like that Mokuba? Varon could help you pick something's out."
Mokuba nodded.
Seto smiled and gave Varon some money. "If he wants something over that amount, just have the store credit the castle and deliver the packages and they will be paid then."
"Yes, my king."
Mokuba and Varon walked out as Seto turned and spotted Mokuba's stepmother. She like Noah, he wanted to avoid. Since, there was no reason too talk to her. The only thing he ever wanted from her was Mokuba and her promise to not bother Mokuba again. Seto had finished paying for his and Mokuba's new clothes and spotted another shirt he thought might look nice on Mokuba.
Mokuba's stepmother however didn't feel the same as Seto did. "You think it's funny."
"Excuse me?" Seto asked.
"You send someone to give me back my kid, only to hurt poor innocent little Noah."
"What are you talking about?" Seto asked.
"You have that bitch give me back JJ, only so that he can hurt Noah. Noah told me the next day that JJ, bit, kicked and hurt him. He was so broken up and distraught over it that he hadn't realized he'd left the door open to allow the boy to escape."