Maura knowing how much Mokuba loved the garden looked there first. She found him sitting on a bench out there. She shivered from the cold as she walked outside and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry, we didn't know it was yours. Here," Maura said trying to hand him his doll. But he just kept staring at the ground. "Mokuba, please take it. What's her name again?"
"Anzu." Mokuba said quietly.
"That's a pretty name."
Mokuba looked up at her. "Y-you think so?"
Maura smiled. "Yes, I do."
Mokuba smiled. "S-Seto said it w-was our m-mothers name."
"Then I guess she's even more special. You shouldn't listen to losers like Dee. We didn't know it was special to you. We would never make fun of you Mokuba. I promise. Ren and Nydia promised not to bring their cousin back again, all right?"
Mokuba nodded and took Anzu from Maura.
"What's wrong with the back?"
Mokuba opened it up and showed her.
Maura spotted the bracelet and pulled it out. "What's this?"
"I f-found it w-with her necklace. I-it's too b-big to w-wear so I w-was making it into a b-belt."
"That's cool. You should finish it and wear it."
Mokuba just blushed and shook his head no.
Maura smiled. "Yes, I'm sure we'll find a chance to wear it. For now, what you say we find Ryo and see about going into town?"
"W-why?"
"I don't know. Christmas Eve is tomorrow. I thought it might be interesting to see if they've decorated the town or anything."
Before Mokuba could say yes or no Maura grabbed his hand and started to drag him away.
They found Ryo sparing with someone. They stopped and watched.
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Ryo jabbed the man's armor and a referee got between them and said. "Point Ryo! Winner Ryo!
Several guards crowed around him.
"That was great Ryo!" Hewitt a guard said.
"Yeah, it was the best match I've seen in a while!" Mark another guard said.
"Hey let's celebrate!" Joey said.
"This early? Shouldn't we train more?" Ryo asked.
"It's never too early!" Joey said.
"Yeah, it is. Ryo's right. More training." Honda said. Everyone groaned. "Besides Ryo couldn't go anyway."
Ryo looked confused. "Why can't I?"
"Babysitting duty calls." Honda said nodding towards Mokuba and Maura.
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"M-maybe, w-we should find Varon and ask him t-to take us. R-Ryo's b-busy and probably wants to continue to t-train."
Maura couldn't argue though Ryo seemed to be in an argument with them he'd most likely work it out and continue to train. "Yeah, you're right. We shouldn't disturb him."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
"Hey, don't knock it. If he hadn't agreed to do it, it'd have been me babysitting the kids!" Joey said. "Don't get me wrong or nothin' I think Mokuba's a nice kid and all I just don't want to have to baby-sit him all day!"
"Yeah, if not Joey then anyone one of us could have been assigned to watch and take care of the little brats. I have sympathy for Varon. He actually had to put up with the kings rug rat while Master Yami was away." JC a guard said.
"Yeah, really now Ryo and Varon have Master Yami's brat to put up with!" Egan a guard said.
Seto's attitude towards Maura made everyone know that Mokuba's was his and Maura was Yami's.
Ryo's anger was boiling. "He is not a brat! You wouldn't have to be up under him all the time!"
"Yeah, yeah. So, what's it going to be training or the rug rats?" Honda asked.
Ryo wanted to stay but after the way they talked about Mokuba, he couldn't stand to look at them anymore. So, without a word he put his sword up and went after Mokuba and Maura.
Ryo turned the corner and found Mokuba and Maura quietly walking towards the door. "Mokuba."
Mokuba turned around and was surprised to see Ryo. Ryo bent down and held up his arms. Mokuba didn't need any further convincing ran and jumped into Ryo's arms.
"Hey kid, I've missed you. Haven't seen you lately."
Mokuba smiled and hugged tighter. "I m-missed you too big brother."
Ryo squeezed him tight then released him. "So, where you guys coming to watch of did you have something else in mind?"
"We were wanting to go into town and look around." Maura said.
Ryo smiled and grabbed Mokuba's hand. "Well then let's go."
"R-really?" Mokuba asked.
"Yeah, I could use a break. Let's go." Ryo said. He then had a small covered buggy readied and the three headed into town. Ryo had made sure to leave word with Bakura that he was taking the kids into town. So that in case Seto or Yami went looking for them they wouldn't worry.