Maura had brought all but Ryo and Bakura's presents down. She didn't want to take the time to go through which ones were just for Mai and Isis.
Maura handed Varon a package. "It's from Mokuba."
Varon opened it to find a belt he made with leather strips.
"I-it's a b-belt I m-made. R-Ryo helped fix the sea shell s-so that it will hold it together."
Varon remembered how he acted towards Mai and Isis and before he could start on how if he hated it. He walked over and ruffled the kid's hair. "Thank you. I'll treasure it."
Mokuba smiled greatly.
Maura handed hers to Varon.
Varon opened it to find a leather vest.
"I wasn't sure if you'd like it, but I felt it'd look good on you." Maura said.
"Thank you miss Maura. It's very nice."
Maura was happy then picked up another one and handed it to Alister. "This ones from Mokuba."
Alister opened it and found a picture that Mokuba drew of him holding his sword. Alister smiled. "Thanks kid. It looks just like me." He held it up and everyone snickered a little. Mokuba could draw animals real well but humans weren't exactly his specialty.
Maura gave Alister another one. "This ones from me."
Alister opened it to find a belt buckle with a sword inside it. "Thanks kid. I'll be sure to wear it."
"You've welcome." Maura said.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Everyone continued to talk and discuss their new presents. The whole castle by now knew that they were in the throne room and about opening other presents not within the family themselves.
Dr. Solomon had left the castle for vacation a few days ago. But had just returned. "My king."
"Dr. Solomon, I thought you were away visiting family." Seto said.
"I was sir, I was visiting with my sister and her family. I was returning to request more time off."
"How much time?" Seto asked.
"I'd like to visit my mother in Aikolian."
"Aikolian, that's way over there on the other side of the Star Kingdom." Yami said.
"Yes sir, that's my homeland. I was born there. When I grew up I wanted to travel. I did so and eventually I ended up here in Draglor and chose to stay. In my travels I learned a lot about medicine and when I chose to settle down here I got my degree and became an official doctor."
"Exactly, how did you end up as the official doctor of the castle?" Seto asked.
"When Mistress Queen Anzu was pregnant with you King Kaiba, the late Master King Gozaburo Kaiba and she were coming home from a treaty meeting. Queen Anzu started having labor pains. I had just barely graduated medical school a year before and was scared to death when they came to the clinic. The late doctor at the time Doctor Lowel Cage was the town doctor and I was just his assistant. Well as you know being country doctors we tend to usually treat animals as well as humans. Well ole Marybell Johnson's cow was having some problems and he was out tending to her at the time. So I was left alone. I knew this was the king and queen and was scared to death. I remember her begging me to not let her lose her child. She didn't care what happened to her as long as her baby survived."
"So what happened?" Yami asked as this was the first time they ever heard this story.
"Well I had heard of women having problems like this when they were stressed and a guard at the time I assume it was her official one, I forgot his name."
"Gerald Hawthorn. I hated him." Seto said.
"I don't know, I didn't think he was that bad." Yami said.
"Well then I guess he liked you. He hated me." Seto said.
"Whatever happened to him anyway?" Yami asked.
"I heard he quit after mother died. I don't think he ever really liked kids. I overheard him say once that it was bad enough that she nearly died giving birth to me but then she goes and dies giving birth to Mokuba." Seto said.
"Well your mother didn't nearly die with you my king. You did."
"What?" Yami asked.
"She nearly lost the baby she was carrying. But I had heard that some healing herbs along with certain medication was enough to stop labor and save the child. I wasn't positive it'd work but it did and with rest she was fine a few days later. A month later the Master king invited me to the castle and invited me to stay on as official doctor of the castle."
"Wow, wait, you said she was willing to give up her life for me?" Seto asked.
"Yes, and before you ask. She knew there was a chance that she would not survive having Master Mokuba. I warned her when we first learned she was pregnant. She had a weak heart after you were born but thanks to some herbs and medication she grew stronger. I tried to get her not to go through with it. But she said that if she was going to be blessed with another child then even if she had to give her life in return she was willing. She didn't want to die but she was willing if it meant Master Mokuba would live. She did live long enough to briefly hold him. I asked her to name him."
"You did?" Seto asked, surprised.
"What did she say?" Yami asked.
"She said that wasn't her job."
"She was his mother, how was it not her job?" Seto asked.
"She said it was your job, my king."
"W-what?" Seto asked with a gulp.
"She said that now it was up to you to take care of him and love him and raise him. So it was your right to name him not hers. That was the last thing she said before…" Dr. Solomon said, leaving the rest unsaid.
Yami smiled, "I guess she wanted us to raise him all along, Seto."
Seto smiled. "Yeah, I guess she did."
Yami whispered something in Mokuba's ear. Mokuba nodded and walked over to Seto and gave him a hug.
Seto smiled and hugged him back very tightly. Then he whispered, "Thank you, Mokuba. I love you."
Mokuba smiled brightly and hugged back just as tight and whispered, "I l-love you too, b-big brother."