Then a cage full of lions was brought out. Then a man bowed and entered the cage. The man then picked up a huge whip.
Mokuba's eyes went wide and lightly whimpered. Being the place was crowded and noisy Seto didn't hear him. Mokuba started to shake when the lion tamer started snapping the whip. The whip never actually touched the animals it would strike in front, above or beside them. Then when the tamer picked up a chair and started to taunt the animal by hitting at its paw with the whip, it sent the poor kid over the edge. He really started to shake violently.
Seto, feeling the kid shake brought his hand to the kid's chest to lightly rub it. At the touch, the kid jumped and started him to whimper more. Now Seto knew something was wrong. But what could be wrong? Then he flinched hearing the whip crack as he'd been concentrating on Mokuba. Then he suddenly realized what was wrong. This wasn't something he'd expected, though he realizes now he should have. He leaned over to Yami and whispered in his ear, "Yami, we have a problem."
Yami looked over and saw Mokuba shaking. He touched Seto causing an invisible soundproof barrier to form around the three of them. He didn't touch Maura cause he wanted her to watch the show. "What happened?"
"I should have realized it when the performance started." Seto said.
Yami was confused but when he looked back and saw the whip, he caught Mokuba's movement out of the corner of his eye and he too soon realized why the boy was so upset. He reached over and as he touched Mokuba's back, the boy arched his back taking a deep breath. He didn't cry out, he'd learned that long ago. You cry out it's anywhere from 5 to 15 more lashes depending on how loud he was and their mood at the time. Seto and Yami both wanted to cry. They understood now that the boy was thinking he was going to be beaten seeing the whip. Seto pulled the boy back against him and started to rub his chest. Yami gently touched Maura so that she'd only concentrate on the show.
Yami gently grabbed the boy's chin to get him to look at him. "Look at me Mokuba."
Mokuba whimpered a little but did as he was told. Yami sighed realizing the boy probably didn't even know him at the moment. "Look at me Mokuba. Really, look at me. Tell me who I am."
Seto was slightly confused but didn't say a word. When Mokuba didn't answer right away, he realized the same thing Yami did. The boy's mind either shut down completely or was only seeing his old family.
When Mokuba didn't answer, Yami said it again softly. "Mokuba, please who am I?"
Mokuba blinked a time or two, no longer hearing or seeing the whip and hearing Yami's voice brought him back to reality. "M-my b-big b-brother."
Seto and Yami both sighed in relief now that they'd gotten him back. Seto kissed his head. "You had us worried for a minute, kid. We were afraid we'd lost you."
Mokuba, still leaning against Seto's chest, looked up. "How c-could you l-lose me big brother, y-you're holding me."
"Mokuba, look at me."
Mokuba looked back at Yami.
"I want you to tell me something and I want you to tell the truth. We need to know and you need to say it. It's the only way. Do you think Seto and I would ever beat you like your old family did?"
Mokuba started crying but lightly shook his head no.
Yami wasn't sure if he meant that. "Mokuba, do you think Seto and I could ever hurt you like your old family did?"
Mokuba thought long and hard before finally saying, "N-no y-you love me." Then hugged him.
Yami kissed the side of his head and hugged him back. "Yes, Mokuba. Seto and I love you very much. We will never hurt you like that."
Mokuba pulled back and looked down. "B-but w-what if I d-do something bad?"
Seto lifted the kid's chin to get him to look at him. "No, Mokuba. There is nothing you could ever say or do. I don't care how bad you are, we could never hurt you like that. You could never do anything that deserves that kind of punishment. You are not a demon, you are an angel."
"I am?"
"I've told you this before." Seto said then as he noticed Mokuba's dark half necklace it got him to thinking. "Mokuba, what does Ryo's necklace look like?"
"I-it's j-just like m-mine but…"
"But what?" Seto asked.
"B-but h-his is l-lighter."
"Mokuba, did you choose which half to wear or did Ryo?" Seto asked.
"I d-did, why?"
Seto sighed. "Is that why you chose the dark half, you still think you're a demon?"
Mokuba bit his lip and looked away.
"You know what I saw when we first met?"
"W-what?"
"I saw a very sweet but very terrified little kid. The one thing I knew for sure was that I had to gain your trust. You are not and never have been a demon."
"Mokuba, do you really think that if you were the demon your family always told you, you were, that you would now have so many people that love and care for you?" Yami asked.
Mokuba had never thought of it that way before.
Seto squeezed him tight and kissed his head. "You are not a demon, sweetheart. You're just a scared little boy. But you're not the same kid Noah used to push around. You're stronger now. You are our little brother and we will always love and care for you."
Mokuba smiled and turned and hugged Seto tightly.
The show was over and Maura turned and noticed something was going on. She had sensed it earlier but she didn't know Yami had placed a small spell to make her only concentrate on watching the show. "What's going on?"
"It's nothing Maura, Mokuba was just upset by the show is all."
"Oh, well then can we go get some popcorn then?"
"W-what's p-pop c-corn?" Mokuba asked.
"Look, that's what the guy's eating." Maura said, pointing to a man with a sack that said popcorn on the side.
"Well the performers are taking a 10-minute break so let's go." Yami said, pushing Maura off his lap and standing up.
"You two go." Seto said.
"Why? Don't you want some?" Yami asked.
"I think the two of you can handle getting enough for everyone. Besides, we don't want to lose our seats."
"But what if someone tries to take Yami's seat?" Maura asked.
Seto smirked. "Not a problem." Then he placed Mokuba on the seat. "See now no ones going to steal it."
Maura and Yami left to get some popcorn.