Varon and Alister had heard about Mai and Isis' presents and decided now was a good time to give theirs.
"My king?" Varon asked.
Seto looked up, "Varon, is there a problem?"
"No, Alister and I wanted to give you our presents."
Seto and Yami were surprised.
"Of course, if you wish." Yami said.
Alister handed Seto his present.
Seto opened it to find a new-jeweled sheath for his sword.
"Alister…"
Alister shook his head. "It suits you perfectly, my king. I thought you'd enjoy it."
'Not to mention it was majorly cheap on sale.'
"I'm impressed." Seto said.
"Well yours was looking a little ragged Seto." Yami said.
"I don't know why. It almost never leaves the closet."
"Y-you have a sword Seto?" Mokuba asked.
Seto looked over in surprise then smiled. "Yeah, I do. I'll show you sometime. But remember Mokuba that it is not a toy to play with. Maybe when you're older if you want you can get some lessons."
"Okay big brother."
Alister handed Yami his.
"Here kiddo, help me open it." Yami said.
Mokuba smiled and tore into it. Yami helped just a little, mostly holding it as Mokuba opened it. It turned out to be a Bow and Arrow set.
"Alister, you didn't have to get this."
Alister shrugged. "Your old one looked like it'd seen better days."
Yami chuckled. "Well it's been a while since I've actually paid attention to what they looked like. I suppose they do need to be changed out."
'I'm happy I spotted that on sale a few months back and got it.'
Mokuba brighten up and looked at Yami, "W-will you let me w-watch you p-practice, big brother, p-please? I really w-want to w-watch. I p-promise not to get in the way or ask to s-shoot. I…"
Yami placed his hand on the boy's lips to stop him from continuing to babble. "Yes, you can watch. I'll make a specific time just for us." Yami then looked to Seto.
Seto knew the question without being asked. He sighed and looked away, "Fine, do what you want. If you think he's up for it."
Everyone else was confused, as they didn't hear a question.
Yami smiled, surprised that Seto was going to allow it. Then he squeezed Mokuba tight. "I'll even teach you how to shoot. But you can only do it when I'm with you or if you can convince Ryo or Bakura to do it."
"R-really?" Mokuba asked, really surprised.
"Of course, I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Someday when you're older, if you still want to you can have a set of your own and shoot at all kinds of targets."
Mokuba couldn't believe it. He hugged Yami so tight he thought he'd choke from lack of oxygen.
Alister then handed a present to Mokuba. "This one's yours kid."
Mokuba smiled and opened it to find a chess set.
"I've chess is really big now." Truth was his aunt had sent it to him. She lived in another kingdom and couldn't travel so she mailed it to him for his birthday a few months back. He never told anyone about it. He figured he'd re-gift it.
Alister handed Maura a present. She opened it to find a puzzle box. He'd bought it off a traveling peddler for next to nothing.
"It's a puzzle box. I used to have one before it broke. It's a wooden puzzle box; it took me at least three minutes of little tricks in order to open it. But I always enjoyed it. You can keep things in it." Alister lied.
'Yeah I tried for three minutes to get that stupid thing open. Then I smashed it and broke it.'
"It's cool! I can't wait to try to open it."
"You can do it later." Yami said.
Varon picked up one of his and set it down for Mokuba. "This ones for you Mokuba."
Mokuba hopped out of Yami's lap and walked over and opened it to find a saddle.
"W-why do I n-need this?" Mokuba asked. Not understanding what he needed with a saddle.
Varon looked at Seto and Yami. He didn't know that they hadn't told him yet. "M-my king…I…I thought he knew."
Mokuba frowned. "K-knew what?"
Seto shook his head. "It's all right. You couldn't have known."
"Come here, Mokuba." Yami said.
Mokuba walked back over and climbed into Yami's lap.
"I promise that as soon as Ryo returns that we'll show you why you'll need that."
Mokuba thought it was strange but didn't argue.
Varon then handed a present to Maura.
She opened it to find a hair kit. It had a silver handled brush and comb. Plus a silver handled mirror, plus a small bowl for powder.
"Oh I love it! Thank you so much Varon!"
"You're very welcome. My king, this one for you."
"Mokuba, would you go down and open it for me?" Seto asked.
Yeah he could have. But he and Yami both enjoyed watching Mokuba open presents. They loved seeing his expression when he opened a gift.
Mokuba climbed out of Yami's lap and walked over and opened it. It was a painted portrait of the family. Seto, Mokuba and Yami were all smiling and Mokuba was sitting in-between them.
"Varon…how…how did you do this?" Seto asked.
Varon smiled. "Well during royal court when you had Master Mokuba there, I had a painter come in. I told him it was to be a present that that was the reason you couldn't do a formal sitting. He said it wasn't a problem as long as he could get an idea. After royal court I asked him. He told me he made sketches and had more than enough material to make the picture. I hope you like it."
"We love it, Varon. You didn't have to do all of this." Yami said.
"He's right, Varon. This was too much."
Varon smiled and shook his head, "No, it's my pleasure my king. I have been very happy over the years. I never imagined that you would ever choose me, Master Atemu, to be your personal guard. I mean there were others way more qualified."
Yami smiled, "That may be, but I didn't choose based on skill alone. I interviewed lots of potential people for your spot but I felt you were the best person for the job. That was proven to me more in volumes when I told you to remain behind and care for Mokuba and you did so. You did a great job."
"Thank you Master Atemu. It was my pleasure to care for him." Varon said and ruffled Mokuba's hair.
Mokuba smiled and went back to Yami and crawled into his lap.
Varon then handed a present to Yami.
"Go ahead and open it Mokuba." Yami said.
Mokuba opened it to find a fancy new sheath for his sword.
"Varon…I don't know what to say. I don't think I even remember where my sword is." Yami said.
"Of course you do. It's in the closest on the other side of mine." Seto said.
"I'm surprised you know." Yami said.
"Why not? That's where you've always stored it. I can't see you putting it anywhere else."
Yami couldn't argue. Seto was probably right. They did usually store their things together.