Ryo wasn't sure how exactly he was going to make up with Mokuba. He knew he had neglected the boy on several occasions. It had been his responsibility to look after the boy and he sent him on various stupid quests just to get out of looking after him.

As he was headed home he saw a young teen walking and flipping a coin. He then remembered the last time Mokuba had come to him. He was wanting to train and not owning up to the responsibilities that he signed up for. Yami had even offered to set him free of the responsibility. But he made the choice to remain. He unintentionally hurt the boy's feelings when he came to him but he basically brushed him off. He had explained at the time he just wanted extra training; the boy wasn't interested in his excuses and was just going to leave. He had to reluctantly leave his training and tried to make it up to him but the boy had refused to tell him what he had wanted.

Still he never truly felt like the boy had completely forgiven him. Especially since it had been Bakura who had later told him about the boy wanting to start a coin collection and had wanted him to take him to town to look for books for them. He also spotted some kids throwing rocks at each other and remembered that the boy also liked to collect rocks and seashells. He smiled, he wouldn't let the kid down again. He knew the others were right and he should fight to be the boy's guard again until a guard could be found for Maura. But he doubted that the boy would accept him. He also knew he needed to get his necklace fixed. He quickly headed back to the castle. First thing he did was grab his necklace and headed to Mokuba's room. He frowned, disappointed that the boy wasn't there. He quickly started asking if anyone had seen him. Few had seen him. One suggested the playroom or the room with their pets. Ryo decided on the pets room since he knew the playroom was under construction.

Ryo knocked and hoped for the best. Mokuba opened it while holding his cat Lancelot. He was surprised to see Ryo standing there. He thought for sure now that he was set free he'd never see him again. "W-what are y-you doing h-here?"

"I broke up with Shizuka."

'Good I hated her as much as she hated me. But he didn't have to find me just to tell me that. I'm sure I'd have heard about it eventually. That still didn't answer my question as to what he's doing here. Shouldn't he be off training? That's all he ever wanted to do when I came to find him. Now he's free to train and do whatever yet he's here.'

Ryo took the silence and the boy's staring at him to mean he was still mad. "Can I come in?"

Mokuba, still confused as to why Ryo suddenly wanted to be here, opened the door wider and stood to the side. Ryo took that as an invitation. Mokuba shut the door and after setting Lancelot down he walked over and sat on the couch next to Ryo.

"I realized I let you down. I should have been spending time with you. Instead I made up wild excuses calling them quests to get rid of you to focus on training. But we could try again. I'll be your guard again until Yami finds someone for Maura."

"N-No I s-set y-you f- free. Y-you s-s-should b-be h-happy. Y-you c-can t-tra…"

Ryo sighed, "Calm down. It's okay." The boy only had this much trouble when he was upset. He now understood what Seto meant when he had said it was Mokuba's decision to release him as his official guard. He'd hurt the kid worse than he thought. He pulled the boy to him and hugged him.

"I'm sorry. "

I can't tell him that the others might have been right and I did secretly blame him for Nosaka's death and Shizuka helped cement the idea. But at the same time I either wouldn't have met her or not gotten as close to her without him.

"We'll discuss this more later. Did Varon ever take you to get the books for your coins?"

Mokuba shook his head no. Although he wondered how Ryo found out about that. He never told him. He never got the chance.

"What do you say we go into town and look and see if we can find some?"

Mokuba frowned, "D-Don't You have t-train…"

Ryo interrupted, "I want to spend the rest of the day with you. What do you say?"

Mokuba thought about it and decided to agree and nodded yes. Ryo was happy the boy agreed to it.

"Let's go find Seto or Yami and be sure it's okay with one of them."

They found Alister and a guard that Ryo didn't recognize but the uniform for some reason did seem familiar but he wasn't sure why. One thing was certain he wasn't from this kingdom. "Do you think it'd be okay if I asked Se…I mean the king a quick question?" Ryo said, pointing towards Mokuba.

"The princess doesn't like her meetings interrupted." The other kingdom guard said.

Ryo thought for a moment then said, "Alister, I don't have a pen and paper. I also don't want to take Mokuba without permission."

Alister growled, times like this he missed Varon. He preferred being inside and Varon on the outside. But Yami wanted the new guy on the inside. He opened the door and knocked.

Seto looked up, "Is there a problem Alister?"

"Sir Ryo would like a quick moment of your time."

Seto was surprised. He couldn't imagine why Ryo would be here. 'Surely he's not here to beg me to reconsider and make him a knight. Especially since he knows I have royal company.'

"Show him in." Still he couldn't just not answer his question. The other kingdom's princess would question why he refused to answer a quick question.

Ryo nervously stepped just inside the door. "My king, I am sorry to disturb you. I wasn't aware we had more royal visitors."

"It's alright. Princess Tea and I were simply chatting. What did you need?"

Ryo wanted to run and hide. Princess Tea was here? The same one who believed that he beat on Mokuba and kidnapped him.

Seeing Ryo hesitate and Mokuba having not heard of the fall out between Ryo and other royal members of the other kingdom didn't know. Seto was confused. Ryo was brought back to reality when Mokuba tugged on the back of his jacket reminding him why he was here. Mokuba only knew he wasn't asking for permission and just seemed to be staring. He kept the boy back, not wanting Princess Tea or her personal guard Amin to see Mokuba. He knew Amin was Amelda's brother. He was sure that Amin knew he'd been the one to get Amelda into trouble by getting his status as new recruit training officer stripped and possibly cost him any chance of being a knight. He wasn't sure if Amin or Princess Tea would even remember what Mokuba looked like but he wasn't taking any chances.

"I, I uh w-wanted permission to take Mokuba into town."

Seto frowned wondering why he was acting like this. "Do you still have the special card in which you can have things charged to the castle?"

Ryo dug out his wallet to look and found it and held it up, "Yes…uh sir I do." He almost forgot to say sir. After all this was in front of another royal person so it was the same as a formal setting.

Seto was still confused as to what Ryo's problem was. Ryo was only hoping and praying that Princess Tea didn't turn around and see him. Then start asking questions.

"Very well you may go. Be back before dinner." He thought it was strange that Ryo wanted to take the boy anywhere. Now that he wasn't the boy's personal guard anymore he thought for sure he wouldn't be hanging out with him anymore. But if he wanted to take the boy into town he wasn't going to question it. Ryo bowed and quickly left the room grabbing Mokuba's hand and speed walking away. He slowed when they left the area.

"That's strange. I briefly had a guard once named Ryo and I believe he said his brother's name was Mokuba. He took off into the night when he was accused of abusing the child. When I heard I sent men out to search for them and to find out the truth. But they were never found. I'm sure it's just an odd coincidence." Princess Tea said.

Now Seto understood Ryo's attitude. He had forgotten that this was the kingdom Ryo had fled to with Mokuba. He decided it best to not say anything. He didn't want trouble. Especially now that he knows all the reasons why Ryo left that kingdom and returned.