Maura walked upstairs but decided to peak into the family room to see what all Mokuba got and was surprised to see all the presents that were there when she left still there. She walked in and smiled seeing them all sound to sleep. She wanted to curl up next to Yami but was afraid she'd wake him up if she did and he looked so peaceful. She figured the way her lucky had been running that if she were to try to that they'd wake up and decide to open the rest of the presents. So she gently laid down her stuff and pulled the blanket back up around Yami's shoulders. Then she moved the blanket up around Mokuba's shoulders. She smiled as she saw him snuggle into Seto's chest more. Then she had to keep from laughing as she noticed that he had a hold of Yami's hand. Then she gathered up her stuff and went to her room.

She gently laid the stuff down on a chair. Then she walked over and sat down in the window seat. 'I do love my sisters and I wouldn't mind helping Diana to raise David. But how do I know that I'll have any freedom? How do I know it won't go back to the way my stepmother treated me. Making me study all-day or worse yet. They get tired of me and decide to marry me off or send me home to my stepmother. I know my sisters mean well but I just have to think. I'm not sure what to do.' She yawned and decided a nap was a good idea. So she took off her shoes and climbed on top of her covered bed and pulled a blanket that was folded at the end of the bed and snuggled up and went to sleep.

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

Mokuba started to whimper. Yami squeezed his hand and suddenly he was woken up by noises. He groaned and sat up but was confused.

"Where am I?" as he looked around more he soon realized that he'd seen this place before. It looked like a basement but he couldn't place it.

Then he heard a familiar whimper. He stood up and brushed himself off. He walked over and looked inside what looked like a room. His eyes went wide when he saw Mokuba. But what shocked him was the fact that Mokuba looked to be a little kid. Yami could only guess but he appeared to be maybe 6-7.

'What is going on? If this is a vision then why is it in the past? Not to mention I don't have a clue as to where I am. Seto told me once that he thought he'd been here before. But he told me he never saw Mokuba.'

Just then he heard voices upstairs. He then saw some mean looking shadows coming down the stairs. He noticed when the door opened that they were just mean fierce shadow like creatures, except one that reminded him of Noah. He heard whimpering and crying and looked over at the small boy who was really shaking and crying now. He was obviously terrified of these things. Though Yami didn't have a clue as to what was happening his protective instincts kicked in.

Not knowing how the boy would respond to him he carefully approached. "Hi there." He almost called him Mokuba, but had to be careful not too.

The little boy looked up at him. "W-who are you?"

Yami was surprised. Not so much that he stuttered but that it wasn't as bad and that he spoke to him right away. Yami figured that with him still so young that all the pain and torment he suffered over the years was what caused him to stop talking and be so scared of other people.

"My names Yami, I'm a friend."

Mokuba cocked his head confused, "W-what's a f-friend?"

Yami was surprised, but he didn't know why he should. "A friend is someone who helps you when you need it, someone that's there when you need them or to talk to them. A friend will also help protect you from danger."

At that the boy seemed to brighten up. "R-really?"

Yami nodded.

Then they heard growls and "WE'RE COMING FOR YOU JJ!"

The boy yelped and clung to Yami's arm.

Yami turned and swept his arm across the door, "Cerancough!"

The monsters hit a barrier or some kind, they continued to growl and scratch trying to get in.

Mokuba looked up and then up at Yami. "H-how did you do that?"

Yami smiled, "It's called magic." it reminded him of the time Mokuba first asked him what magic was.

"W-what h-happen to t-them?"

"Well at the moment they can't get in here to hurt you."

"P-promise?"

Yami smiled and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I promise. I'm going to call you Mokuba, if you don't mind?"

Mokuba shook his head no.

"I promise, I will protect you." Yami said, then he picked him up.

"W-Where are w-we going?"

"I'm taking you out of here and home with me." Yami said. 'I don't care if this is the past another world or what it is, I am not leaving this kid there!' Yami was able to create a portal that took them outside the house. He started to carry the small boy and they started walking into the woods. They soon came to a cave but after that Yami found it strange that all he could see were more trees. He knew it was still a ways from town but thought for sure he'd be able to see more. "Little one do you know where the castle is?"

Mokuba was a little sleepy but shook his head no.

Yami was still confused but continued to walk. Soon he discovered they were just walking in the woods and getting nowhere.

Suddenly Mokuba whispers, "They're coming back."

Yami's eyes went wide and turned around to see the shadows once again coming.

"GIVE US THE BOY!" One of the shadows demanded.

"HE BELONGS TO US! GIVE HIM TO US!" Another shadow demanded.

"YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM, WE SAW HIM FIRST!"

"HE'S OURS, GIVE HIM TO US!"

Yami protectively held the boy close. "No, never!" but as the shadows approached backing Yami into a wall he yelled, "I will never give him to you!"

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

Suddenly Yami woke with a start. As he looked around the room he was confused as to what happened. 'What was that? A vision or what?'

Mokuba sat up rubbing his eyes. Then he looked at Yami and held out his arms whimpering.

Yami looked over and put his hand on his cheek and Mokuba nuzzled it.

"P-Please big brother, I d-don't want t-them to g-get me."

Yami looked at the little boy in surprise. 'How could Mokuba know…'

When Yami refused to take him Mokuba grabbed his hand with both hands snuggled into Seto's chest more, then moved and stretched out his legs and put them in Yami's lap. Seto's arms instinctly tightened around the boy.

As Mokuba held his hand close to his chest tightly it was then that it hit Yami what happened. 'I must have somehow ended up inside of Mokuba's nightmares. Somehow, I must have woke myself up and it left Mokuba alone with those shadow creeps. I'm not sure how, but I have got to find a way to convince Mokuba to let me have control of that dream. It's the only way, I can make sure he remains safe!' Yami thought he then laid back and gently remove his hand from the boys grip moved it underneath Seto's again and let the boy have it. Hoping that he can one again somehow get inside of Mokuba's nightmares.