Ryo didn't want to believe them. As he was saddling his horse he muttered to himself, "No, Shizuka isn't like that, she loves children and I know that she likes Mokuba." He wanted to prove them wrong so he rode into town. But the whole way there he had a nagging feeling that he knew what he was saying was wrong but he didn't know why. He arrived at the toy store and he found the shop empty. Considering the snow he wasn't surprised.

Shizuka was surprised to see him and ran up and kissed him, "Ryo what brings you here?"

"After some of the guys were yelling at me and telling me bad things about you. I had to come see you."

"Why were they yelling at you? What things were they telling you?"

"They blame me for what happened."

"What happened? Why did they blame you?"

"We had an unexpected change. All guards and knights, including me, lost their jobs and were forced to compete for our jobs and rank back. I didn't make it as a knight. I was given lower level guard status."

"Oh Ryo I'm sorry. I thought the king liked you. I thought for sure he'd give you knighthood."

"Seto and Yami both offered me knighthood. They offered it as well as continuing being Mokuba's personal guard."

Shizuka wrinkled her nose at the reminder of Mokuba. Normally Ryo wouldn't have noticed or ignored it. But after what the other guards told him and his nagging feelings he took more notice of her reactions. She straightened up her face with a smile and asked, "Why didn't you take it?"

"I don't know. I just didn't like the idea of it just being handed to me. Plus if others learned I was a personal guard and a knight they'd never accept me. I had thought I would wait a few years before trying to be a knight. I didn't want to stop being Mokuba's guard until he was older or ready."

"So what happened?"

"That's just it. The other guards were ragging on me and as I thought about it more on the way here they were right."

"About what?"

"Something, I don't know what. But something must have happened as Mokuba told me flat out that he was choosing Varon as his guard. I was a fool. I never once stopped to ask why. Why now? Instead the other guys were right. I was so happy to be free to try to become a knight. I never thought of his feelings."

Before Shizuka could say anything Sugoroku walked in.

"Ryo, what brings you here? Did you not bring Mokuba with you?"

"Ryo won't be hanging out with him anymore. He's no longer the kids' guard." Shizuka said with a little more happiness than Ryo liked.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Sugoroku said.

"So did you just come to hang out with Shizuka?"

"Actually, no, I just came to talk to her. I can't stay too long. But since you're here I had been planning to ask Shizuka. But since you're here. Note what I'm about to say isn't a request from Seto or Master Yami. They don't know I'm making said request." Although he still called his king by his first name in public most of the time he tends to revert to calling Yami Master in public.

"Well what's this request?" Sugoroku asked.

"We're having a ball in 2 days on New Years. Some of the other guards suggested that you might like to donate toys for the royal children attending and advertise your shop. One did question delivery but maybe Master Yami might know a way to magically ship your items."

Sugoroku brightened up and left, leaving Ryo and Shizuka confused until he came back wearing his coat.

"Grandfather, where are you going?"

"Ryo said it wasn't a formal request and the king and Master Yami don't know yet, correct?" Sugoroku asked.

"No, not yet, why?"

"I'm on my way to rent a horse, go to the castle and formally request it!" Sugoroku

"What but Grandfather, Ryo said, two days. That's not a lot of time." Shizuka argued.

Sugoroku waved her off, "Nonsense, if we need help I know a few local boy's that would help out for very little." With that he was gone.

"Forget him, what were you saying about losing your job? Didn't the king offer you knighthood again?"

Ryo shook his head, "No I was told he wasn't going to offer it to me. That I'd have to earn it."

"How could he do that? You more than earned it watching after that kid. Besides, no matter what position he gives you no one's going to believe you earned it fairly."

Ryo nodded, "He was afraid of that. No matter What, if any position he gives me or Joey everyone would cry unfair. Well maybe not if we got the positions we have now. Which is at the bottom of the rung. But at the same time I still think there would be those wondering especially with Joey if he earned it or if it was a pity hire. Me if I had gotten anything above what I have now they'd believe it was just handed to me."

"So what if they complain. There's nothing they can do about it."

"Seto didn't want the others complaining. To combat this he brought in retired knights to judge. Seto and Master Yami both even sat away from the judges so no one could accuse them of influencing the judges. I learned later that Master Yami even put up a magical barrier that while they could see the action happening on the field they couldn't see our faces. They were magically obscured. We were given numbers and that's how we were graded. No one can cry foul and say someone got something they didn't earn. So it's official and fair this time."

"I'm sorry Ryo."

"It's fine. I'll just have to train harder and maybe next year I'll make it."

"I know you'll make it someday."

"Thanks."

"So…were, were you going to ask me to go to the ball with you?"

"Yes, I thought we could split our time between rooms."

"Rooms?"

Ryo smiled, this would be the final deciding factor. "Yes, one room is the main ballroom. But attached is a smaller one for the royal children. I thought this would be a good chance for me to make up with Mokuba and you to get to know him better. You could also entertain the other children with books or stories."

Shizuka pulled away and glared at him, "What? Are you crazy? I finally got you to stop wearing the necklace that connects to his and you tell me you're finally free of him permanently. Now you want us to waste time at a dance that's supposed to be the two of us enjoying our time together with him and other children?"

"What are you talking about? I didn't stop wearing it for you. The chain broke. I should have brought it with me but I forgot."

"See that's proof! You were only thinking about me, not that brat. Ryo, I understand why you took care of him in the beginning. But he has a home and family now. You said it yourself: you want to train, you want to be a knight. It's what you've dreamed of. You have to let the brat go. You've never had or made time for him. You told me that yourself. Focus on yourself, on us!"

"You know what? That's been my problem." Ryo said, the spell wearing off.

"See I knew you'd come around."

"No, I left town because you cheated on me."

Shizuka glared at him, "I told you I didn't cheat on you!"

"So you say. Anyway I forgave you when I returned. But I guess you did get into my head as I while not intentionally I did start to push him away. I'm sorry Shizuka but I can't do this anymore. I want to work on myself and maybe if I work on myself more I can have it all someday."

"All?" Shizuka questioned.

Ryo nodded, "All as in have a relationship with Mokuba, become a knight and have a girlfriend that can love not just Mokuba but also children. I told you when we first started going out that someday I want to get married and have kids of my own. That won't happen with you."

"It can! As a knight we'd be able to hire a nanny!"

"I'm not opposed to nannies but if you hate kids how is this going to work? The nanny would basically be the kids' mother. You'd hate it as there'd be no escape. You'd probably freak out if the kid called you mom. You'd probably want the nanny to have the child for you too."

"Well, no I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't want you to sleep with her or any other woman."

"You avoided my question. You admitted that you hate children. So why would you agree to have mine?"

"Because I love you and want to be with you. I know you want children so I'm willing to have them for you."

"How long would you stay?"

"What?"

"How long would you stay before you either did something to the child or you packed up and left?"

"No, I'd do my best to be a good mother. I'd tolerate the kids for you."

"Why are you really living and working in this shop, Shizuka?"

"Why are you changing the subject?"

"I want to know why you stay here?"

"I can't just leave after my grandfather took me in 5 years ago. My mother ran off with another man and my father soon after dropped me off here. Aikolane is my home country. Grandfather didn't want dad to marry mom to begin with but accepted it because of me. Mom and grandfather didn't get along. One day Grandfather had enough he left a note and left. I was 8. It wasn't until after mom left that dad told me that we were going to visit Grandfather. I didn't know then that he'd planned on leaving me. I woke up the day after we arrived to find a note telling me he's off to find mother and divorce her. Even though he didn't say it I assumed he'd be back for me. I was 17 when he dumped me here. I tried Ryo. I really tried but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't learn to like, much less love children the way Grandfather does. I've learned to tolerate and endure."

"I understand."

"So did this mean you'll take me to the ball and think more on marrying me?"

Ryo pushed her away, "No Shizuka. I told you someday I want my own children." He held up his hand, "I want someone whom I know I can love and trust."

"I didn't cheat on you."

Ryo still had that image burned in his mind. Although he'd given her a second chance and somewhere in his head he's thinking that this is her third chance but he wasn't sure how that could be. He remembered something Sugoroku had said once. He'd told her she couldn't hang out with her boyfriends all day. Ryo hadn't given it much thought at the time. But now he questions if she wasn't still seeing Duke or some other guy or both. "Even if you didn't, I can't be with someone who can't accept me, my family and future family."

"Family? Wait, this isn't about Bakura. This is still about that brat isn't it?"

"Is not just about Mokuba. Although your constantly calling him a brat is doing you no favors here. It's that I know you would never be a good mother or would ever want to be with your own children."

"No, Ryo I can, I promise!"

Ryo didn't believe she could ever come to love a child, even her own. "I'm sorry Shizuka but it's officially over between us."

"So are you going to run away again? Maybe find another bitch like the last one?"