Maura and Joey were looking around and Maura soon discovered why Serenity always hated her gifts.

"Joey tell me you did not get that for Serenity."

"What's wrong with it? It's a nice dress."

"Nice style yes. But if she were to get you an orange shirt would you wear it?"

"Well she likes orange."

"Does she wear it?"

"Actually she told me she tried it on and it accidentally caught on fire."

'This guys brain dead! No wonder she hates what he picks out. He'd been better off just giving her the money and staying out of it. Accidental my foot, more like accidentally on purpose; I wanted to do that with that ugly big bright as the sun yellow dress that my stepmother gave me and papa made me wear it! I felt like that thing would swallow me whole it was so big and fluffy! I was able to finally able to get out of wearing it by putting one small tear in it. It wasn't very big but big enough that my stepmother threw a fit over it. I didn't have to wear it anymore.'

Joey picked up some earrings. "What about these?"

"Does she like big earrings like that?"

"Well I've gotten them for her before."

"That alone should give you a clue. If you're going to get some get these little small ones."

"But they're so small."

"Well I've never been allowed to wear anything other than studs." Then she walked over and picked up a porcelain doll. "What about this?"

"That looks awful expensive."

"Do you want to be a cheapskate?"

Joey walked over and picked up a doll that was said to be an antique but didn't look in the best of shapes. "What about this?"

"You do that. Have Serenity call me afterwards."

Joey frowned. "Why?"

"I'll help her bury you."

Joey knew that she was probably right.

"Why is it she hasn't before?"

"Well her eyes sights always been bad. Well till recently when Yugi healed her."

"I see. Well with perfect sight now do you really want to disappoint her?"

Joey sighed "Are you sure she's going to like it?"

"My mother had one that had been in our family for generations."

"Where is it now?"

"Probably destroyed."

"Why would you think that?"

"My stepmother hated anything to do with my mother. I haven't seen it in years. So, are we going with the doll?

Joey really hadn't planned to spend so much but agreed to get the doll. Then they were off to see if they could find anything else. Joey had a feeling he'd be broke before the day was through or be in hock up to his eyes!

x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

As Maura continually tried to figure out how brain dead Joey really was Yami walking through an unused part of the castle. He'd had a strange sense of someone in or near the castle all day.

"Greetings Yami."

Yami turned around to see who would be so formal with him. He was surprised at who he saw. "Koi?"

The man bowed. "Koi, the Master of Shadows at your service."

"What are you doing here? Dartz hasn't returned has he?"

"No, no he won't have the power to return here for centuries."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to visit and offer help."

Yami was confused. "Help with what?"

"Well I remember your telling me about your little brother."

"I'm sorry Mokuba's not in the castle right now. I'd love for you to meet him though."

"Yes, that's where I can be of help."

"Why is something wrong?"

"Yes, the young man he was with, he has a strong bond with him."

"Ryo, yes I know." Yami said a little sad.

"That's how I can help you, by eliminating him!"

"What? You can't be serious!"

"Why not? His bond with him is stronger than yours. With him out of the way your bond could grow."

"No."

"What? You just let this man take him away from you?"

"He already did once."

"Then how can you let him live!"

"He also brought him back and made us learn what the boy means to us. Whether or not Ryo leaves again we wont stop Mokuba from going with him. The best we can do is hope that he won't, that our love for him will be enough to make him want to stay. Killing Ryo will not bring him closer to us; it will only drive him away. I appreciate the offer Koi, but you don't understand Mokuba. I do."

"I see, I apologize then, I was wanting to help."

"I appreciate the offer of help. But helping to run this castle takes up a lot more time than I'd like. It takes time away from us spending more time with him. Ryo has the time we don't. As much as I hate the fact, that he has a stronger hold over the kid, in a way it for the best. The kid gets the love and attention he needs and deserves."

x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

As Yami as Koi continued to talk Riva hadn't seen or heard from Brenne or Wolfgang in days, she'd heard they had plans but hadn't heard of success or failure; since there wasn't anything in the papers about a couple of dead kids or even one and no activity from the castle that would show a heightened since of danger.

She went to their home, which was an old abandoned caboose. She started to bang on the door. After a few minutes, she tried the door and it opened. She found them passed out and soon discovered the reason for it. "Opium, it figures. I knew they were druggies. They're just lucky it was me that found them rather that Ita and Malka. They wouldn't be so kind. They probably would kill them on the spot. You're just lucky they're out of town on that job for a few more weeks!"

The more she thought about them just passed out not doing their job irritated her! "Wake up now!" Riva said shaking Brenne violently.

"What?" Brenne questioned looking around. Then looked up at Riva and smiled. "Oh hey, Riva. What are you doing here so early?"

"Early! Its 4 o'clock in the afternoon! What happened to your great plans of killing those brats?"

"W-we'll do it when before they leave the fair."

Riva wasn't so sure she'd asked around and though people remembered them, no one had seen them since either Sunday or Monday no one could agree on which.

"Really and what day is this?"

"Saturday? No wait it's Sunday, I think."

"It's Wednesday!"

Brenne smiled. "No, It can't be we only smoked a little didn't we Wolfgang?"

Wolfgang didn't move.

"You sure he's not dead?" Riva asked.

"No, he's just a sound sleeper." Brenne said and he grunted as she pounded his chest.

"Well at least he's alive. You know how dangerous that stuff is!"

At that Brenne smiled, "Sex is even more dangerous don't you know anything?"

Riva was even more furious at that. "Fine! You want to kill yourselves be my guest!" She said and stormed out.

"What does she know?" Brenne questioned before kissing Wolfgang and laying back down and going to sleep.